Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Examples, Formula, Structure & Rules

Definition:

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense describes the action or circumstance that is continued somewhere in the past and continuing until another action takes place in the past.

It is also called the past perfect progressive tense as continuous means progressive. The formation of two tenses. the past continuous tense and the past perfect tense. It shows the exact time of action that took place and a specific point of action.

formula of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Subject + had been + Verb (ing) + object

Here, the modal verb had been, and the verb in the present participle form indicates the continuous for a time duration until the action is finished.

To describe time duration in the past, “for” is used, and to describe a point in past time, “since” is used in a sentence.

For example

• They had been waiting continuously for two hours at the airport.
• Michael had been complaining about the mistakes since Jan 2019.

Sentence Structure & Rules

There are three possibilities of writing any sentence or a statement in present perfect continuous tense form,

1. Positive statements,
   [Subject + had been + verb (ing) + object] 
2. Negative statements,
   [Subject + had not been + verb (ing) + object]
3. Yes/no type or Interrogative question statements,
   [had + subject + been + verb (ing) + object]

Examples

1. She had been waiting for her father to come from the hospital. (positive)
2. She had not been waiting for her father to come from the hospital. (negative)
3. Had she been waiting for her father to come from the hospital? (question)

1. James had been working on this thesis for three years. (positive)
2. James had not been working on this thesis for three years. (negative)
3. Had James been working on this thesis for three years? (question)

1. Brain Lara had been playing cricket since childhood. (positive)
2. Brain Lara had not been playing cricket since childhood. (negative)
3. Had Brain Lara been playing cricket since childhood? (question)

1. They had been dancing on the beat of the song for half an hour. (positive)
2. They hadn’t been dancing on the beat of the song for half an hour. (negative)
3. Had they been dancing on the beat of the song for half an hour? (question)

More examples of past perfect continuous tense

Exercise:

Complete the following sentence by using the appropriate verbs to make it as a past perfect continuous tense statement.

1. She _____________ an essay since morning. (write)
2. My father had been ________ for many years. (work)
3. I _________ video games. (play)
4. he had been ________ junk food. (eat)
5. We had been ________ for the exam test. (prepare)
6. He _____________ cosmetic cream for a week. (use)
7. I had been _________ my birthday for many years. (celebrate)
8. _____ he been __________ a song since a morning. (sing)

Answers

1. She had been writing an essay since morning.
2. My father had been working for many years.
3. I had been playing video games.
4. he had been eating junk food.
5. We had been preparing for the exam test.
6. He had been using cosmetic cream for a week.
7. I had been celebrating my birthday for many years.
8. Had he been singing a song since a morning.

More Tenses
1. Past Perfect Tense
2. Past Continuous Tense