Past Perfect Continuous Tense | Download complete PDF

Past Perfect Continuous Tense!

In this tense first form of the verb is used with the addition of ing ( 1st form + ing). “had been” is the helping verb of this tense. Since and for phrases are also used at the end.

Affirmative sentences 

Simply 1st form of a verb is used in addition to (ing). Or we can say that the fourth form of the verb is used. 1st form of verb + ing also known as the fourth form of the verb. “had been” is the helping verb of this tense. Since and for phrases are also used at the end.

Formation of past perfect continuous tense

Sub + helping verb ( had been) + 1st form of verb + ing + object + since/for phrases.

Examples:

  • He had been taking bath since morning,
  • Girls had been clapping and dancing for two hours.
  • Boys had been making noise since morning.
  • He had been riding a horse for two years.
  • Many of the students had been participating in sports for three years.

past perfect continuous tense affirmative

Negative sentences

When we have to make negative sentences, we use not after (Had) and before been.

Formation :

Subject + helping verb ( had) + not +been + 1st form of verb + ing + object + since/for phrases

Examples:

  • He had not been taking bath since morning,
  • Girls had not been clapping and dancing for two hours.
  • Boys had not been making noise since morning.
  • He had not been riding a horse for two years.
  • Many students had not been participating in sports for three years.

past perfect continuous tense negative

Interrogative sentences

In the case of interrogative sentences, the helping verb (had) is placed at the start of the sentence. And a question mark is added at the end.

Formation :

Helping verb ( had) + Subject + been + 1st form of verb + ing + object + since/for + ?

Examples:

  • Had he been taking bath since morning?
  • Had girls been clapping and dancing for two hours?
  • Had boys been making noise since morning?
  • Had he been riding a horse for two years?
  • Had many of the students been participating in sports for three years?

past perfect continuous tense interrogative

Past perfect continuous tense Table

Helping Verbs

(had )

Form of Verb

(first form of verb + ing)

+       Affirmative Sentences

Sub   +   ( had been)   +   ing form   +   object   +   since/for phrases.

He           +      had been      +     taking     +     bath      +     since morning.

–          Negative sentences

Sub   +   (had) +   not  + been  +   ing form   +   object   +   since/for phrases.

He      +      had  +      not    + been      +     taking    +     bath     +     since morning.

?       Interrogative Sentences

(had) +   Sub   + been +   ing form   +   object   +   since/for phrases + ?

Had    +    He     + been        +     taking     +     bath      +     since morning +  ?

Past Perfect Continuous Tense examples pdf

  • You had been shopping in that market before you came home.
  • We had been watching a movie in this Cineplex for three hours.
  • We had been shopping in that shop before we came home.
  • We had been enjoying the program thoroughly for three hours.
  • Tom had been traveling around the world since the month of December.
  • They had been playing hockey on that field for three hours.
  • They had been playing football in that field before it started to rain.
  • The poet had been writing romantic poems since morning.
  • The lyricist had been writing realistic songs since the beginning of his career.
  • Richard had been practicing to sing the song since morning.
  • Jeff had been studying in the library before he came to the class.
  • Jane had been gossiping in the coffee shop for two hours.
  • I had not been watching the cricket match on television for two hours.
  • I had been writing articles on various topics for three hours.
  • I had been singing different kinds of songs for an hour.
  • I had been shopping with my elder brother in the fair since morning.
  • I had been listening to melodious songs for two hours.
  • I had been helping him to do the task before I started the program.
  • He had been reading different kinds of books since morning.
  • Had you not been enjoying the concert for three hours?

English tenses PDF

  1. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
  2. Present Indefinite Tense
  3. Present continuous Tense
  4. Present Perfect Tense
  5. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
  6. Past Indefinite Tense
  7. Past continuous Tense
  8. Past Perfect Tense
  9. Future Indefinite Tense
  10. Future continuous Tense
  11. Future Perfect Tense
  12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

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  1. Nasim Ali Safi