Form of the past perfect continuous
The Past Perfect Continuous is formed by had + been + -ing form.
Past perfect continuous: positive and negative
I / You She / He / It We / You / They |
'd (had) hadn't |
been working. |
Past perfect continous: question
Had |
I /You She / He / It We / You / They |
been swimming? |
Use of the past perfect continuous
The Past Perfect Continuous is used to talk about continuous actions that began and finish in the past before another action in the past.
- Susan was very tired. She had been running.
- I'm angry. I have been waiting for two hours.
- He said he wasn't tired because he hadn't been working that day.
- Jason was tired because he had been jogging.
- How long had you been studying Spanish before you moved to Madrid?