UNIVERSIDAD LATINOAMERICANO DE

ESTUDIOS SUPERIORES

ENGLISH V

EXAM: PAST PERFECT CONTINUOS

BY: GERARDO AREVALO MAGAÑA

LAW DEGREE: FIFTH SEMESTER

DATE: VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCO,

SATURDAY 24th, FEBRAURY, 2024
 USES
We use the past perfect continuous to refer to something we had been doing (in
progress) when another action interrupted it. The past perfect continuous is used for
action in progress and the past simple for action that interrupts. When we refer to
something we have been doing over a period of time, therefore, we often use the time
prepositions “for” or “since.”
The past perfect continuous, often called Past Perfect Progressive, is primarily used to
talk about an action that was in progress in the past and that precedes another action
also in the past. This allows us to establish a temporal and duration relationship
between two events. Let's see some of its uses with examples:
Duration before a point in the past: For example, She had been studying for hours
before she finally took a break. Here, the use of the Past Perfect Continuous
emphasizes the duration of studying before taking a break.
Cause of an action in the past: He was tired because he had been running. The action
of running explains the cause of his fatigue.
Two actions in progress in the past: While I had been cooking, my brother had been
setting the table. Both actions occur simultaneously in the past.
The correct use of the Past Perfect Continuous structure is vital for its mastery and to
avoid confusion. It is important to remember that this tense is made up of several
parts, and omitting any of them can change the meaning of a sentence or make it
grammatically incorrect.
When a Past Perfect Continuous question is formed, it is often asked about the
duration of an action up to a point in the past: How long had you been studying before
the test? The expected answer must indicate a duration: I had been studying for five
hours before the test.

STRUCTURE
AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + auxiliary verb (had been) + –ing verb
+ complement
EXAMPLE: They had been waiting for the
concert to start for hours.
NEGATIVE:

Subject + had not been + verb –ing + complement

EXAMPLE: She had not been feeling well, so she decided to cancel the meeting.

INTERROGATIVE:

“Had” + subject + “been” + verb+ing?

EXAMPLE: Had you been working on the project long before the deadline?
30 GERUND VERBS
infinitive gerund Spanish
write Writing escribiendo
work working trabajando
walk walking caminando
use Using Usando
try Trying Probando
think thinking Pensando
talk Talking Hablando con
take Taking Tomando
swin swimming Nadando
study studying Estudiar
star Starting Empezar
speak speaking Hablando
sleep sleeping Durmiendo
sit Sitting Sentado
see Seeing Viendo
say Saying Diciendo
run running Corriendo
read Reading Leeyendo
rain Raining Lloviendo
put Putting poniendo
play Playing jugando
sing Singing cantando
cook cooking cocinando
accept accepting aceptando
admit admitting admitiendo

advise advising aconsejando

allow allowing permitiendo

anticipate anticipating anticipando

appreciate appreciating apreciando

avoid avoiding evitando

CONJUGATION

We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key.

EXAMPLES (SENTENCES)

AFFIRMATIVE

1. He had been working

2. It had been raining

3. They had been cooking

4. You had been buying

5. I had been cooking something special for you

NEGATIVE

1. You had not been gardening all day.

2. She had not been crying

3. He had not been shopping

4. We had not been reading

5. They had not been running

INTERROGATIVE
1. Had I been working?

2. Had she been reading?

3. Had he been watching TV?

4. Had we been drinking?

5. Had you been eating?