Past Perfect Continuous Tense

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We use the past perfect continuous tense a lot, but sometimes we don’t use it the right way. This tense talks about the ‘past in the past.’ This article helps you understand how to make and use the past perfect continuous tense. It makes learning about it easy and detailed. There are also questions to check how well you understand this tense.

Also Check: Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect continuous tense talks about something that began, kept going, and finished at a specific time in the past. For instance: He was eating cereal from the box when Dad came in. I had been working at the restaurant for two years before I got promoted.

Definition of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The past perfect continuous tense talks about an action that started in the past and kept going until another point in the past. It’s also called the past perfect progressive tense.

Also Check: Simple Past Tense

had been + the verb’s present participle (root + -ing)

The past perfect continuous tense isn’t the same as the present perfect continuous. The present perfect continuous talks about something that started in the past and is still happening now. But the past perfect continuous talks about something that started, kept going, and finished all in the past.

Examples:

He had been eating food out of the box when mum walked into the room.
I had been working at the corporate for two years when I got the promotion.

Also Check: Past Continuous Tense

Formula and Structure of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Knowing how to create the past perfect continuous tense can really help. Here’s a simple formula you can use when making sentences with this tense.

Subject + had + been + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

Structure of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Positive	Negative	Interrogative	Negative Interrogative
Subject + had + been + present participle + the rest of the sentence	Subject + had + not + been + present participle + the rest of the sentence	Had + subject + been + present participle + the rest of the sentence	Had + subject + not + been + present participle + the rest of the sentence (or) Hadn’t + subject + been + present participle + the rest of the sentence
Examples: I had been cooking my mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. You had been cooking your mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. He had been cooking his mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. She had been cooking her mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. They had been cooking their mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen.	Examples: I had not been cooking my mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. You had not been cooking your mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. He had not been cooking his mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. She had not been cooking her mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen. They had not been cooking their mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen.	Examples: Had I been cooking my mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had you been cooking your mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had he been cooking his mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had she been cooking her mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had they been cooking their mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen?	Examples: Hadn’t I been cooking my mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Hadn’t you been cooking your mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Hadn’t he been cooking his mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Hadn’t she been cooking her mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Hadn’t they been cooking their mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had you not been cooking your mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had she not been cooking her mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had he not been cooking his mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen? Had they not been cooking their mom’s favourite dish when she walked into the kitchen?

Rules when Using the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The past perfect continuous tense works like the present perfect continuous tense. It uses two helping verbs and a main verb. To create a positive sentence, you start with ‘had’ as the first helping verb, then add ‘been’, and finish with the main verb’s present participle.

In questions, begin with ‘had’, then the subject, ‘been’, and the main verb’s present participle.

For negative sentences, include ‘not’ after ‘had’. In negative questions, you can use ‘hadn’t’ or place ‘not’ after the subject.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense FAQs

What is past perfect continuous tense with examples?

The past perfect continuous tense shows ongoing actions that happened before another point in the past. For example: 'She had been studying for two hours before she took a break.'

What are 5 examples of past continuous tense?

The past continuous tense shows actions that were happening at a specific time in the past. Examples include: 'She was cooking dinner when the phone rang,' 'They were playing football at 5 PM yesterday.'

What is the past perfect or continuous verb tense?

The past perfect continuous tense describes ongoing actions that were happening before another action in the past. For example: 'They had been waiting for hours before the train arrived.'

What is the formula for the past perfect progressive tense?

The formula for the past perfect progressive tense is 'had been' + the present participle ('-ing' form of the verb). For instance: 'She had been working on the project for weeks.'