Helping English

Past Perfect Continuous Tense: is used to describe an action which had been going on for some time and finished at some definite time in the past. E.g When I arrived, Allen had been waiting for me for two hours.

Formula: Subject + had been + present participle ( verb  form with -ing) + complement & time phrase (for & since)

Exercise: Write the Past Perfect Continuous forms of the verbs given in parenthesis (  ).

1. Saleem was sitting on the chair; he was breathless. He ____________ for an hour. (run)
2. We __________________(walk) along the road for 20 minutes when a car stopped for us.
3. I _______________(do) my homework for two hours when my friend came.
4. They _____________(take) exercise since morning.
5. The patient ______________(cry) with pain when the doctor arrived.

Answer key

1 had been running – 2 had been walking – 3 had been doing – 4 had been taking – 5 had been crying