CELTA input – language analysis –

SYSTEMS lessons and LRT

LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT – target language: I had been working there for 3 years.
A. MEANING ANALYSIS: “We use the past perfect continuous to talk about actions or events
which started before a particular time in the past and were still in
progress up to that time in the past.”

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/past/past-
perfect-continuous-i-had-been-working

B. MEANING “I had been working there for 3 years, but I realized working in a
ILLUSTRATION: bakery wasn't what I wanted, so I moved to Australia for a new life”

I would show the picture as I tell the story. The timeline shows more
precise time events.

C. MEANING CHECK: - Had she been working in a bakery for more than a year? Yes.
- Was she happy with her job? No.
- Did she eventually moved to another country? Yes.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural 1
relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
Page of 2
 CELTA input – language analysis –
SYSTEMS lessons and LRT

D. FORM ANALYSIS:

E. PRON ANALYSIS: I had BEEN working there for 3 years.

Note: “had” is usually pronounced very weakly.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural 2
relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
Page of 2