Exploring the Past

Perfect Progressive

Understanding Actions in Progress Before a Certain Point in the Past

by Hernán Rosario
Introduction to Past Perfect Progressive

1 Definition
The past perfect progressive tense, also known as the past perfect continuous, is used to describe actions
that were ongoing in the past before another action or point in time.
Structure of Past Perfect Progressive
Explanation

"She" (subject)
"had been" (past perfect progressive auxiliary)
"studying" (present participle verb)
"for two hours" (duration)
"before the phone rang" (reference point in the past)
Usage of Past Perfect
Progressive
1 Actions that started in the past and were still ongoing up to
a certain point in the past.
Emphasizing the duration of an action that occurred before a specific point in
the past.
Examples of Past Perfect Progressive
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

"By the time Sarah arrived, the "He had been working on the "They had been waiting for the bus
team had been practicing for project all day before he realized it for over an hour when it finally
hours." was due tomorrow." arrived."
Practice Time!
1 Activity
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the past perfect progressive
tense.

1. By the time I got home, my mom _______ (cook) dinner for two hours.

2. The students _______ (study) English for weeks before they took the
exam.
3. We _______ (wait) at the airport for hours before our flight was finally
announced.
4. When they arrived at the party, the decorations _______ (set up) for
hours.
5. Before the storm hit, the workers _______ (secure) the outdoor
equipment for the entire morning.
Practice 2
Write sentences to describe the situations provided using the past
perfect progressive tense:

• Example Situation: Tom finally found his missing wallet.

• Sentence: Tom had been searching for his missing wallet for
hours before he finally found it hidden under the couch.

• Practice

1. Situation: The children arrived home late.

2. Situation: Jane and Joe studied for the exam.
3. Situation: The police caught the criminal.
Conversation
Prompt: With your partner, have a 5-minute conversation catching up after spring break vacation. Use the past perfect
continuous ("had been V-ing") to describe actions that were ongoing up until spring break started.

Person A:

• Mention a few things you had been doing leading up to spring break using the past perfect continuous (had been
studying, had been working out, etc.)
• Explain how spring break allowed you to take a break from those activities

Person B:

• Ask follow-up questions Share your own examples of what you had been doing before the break.

Examples: A: "I had been studying so hard for the final exam before spring break. I'm glad I got a chance to relax!" B:
"Had you been doing other activities before the break?