Past Perfect Continuous Tense| Use, Rules, Formula, Examples

Past Perfect Continuous Tense can be explained as that type of past tense in which the Verb is used to indicate the action that has been started during a past time long ago but is still in the progressing phase during the past time. It means that actions that had been practiced over time, but are still not completed instead going on during past time.

Rules to form Past Perfect Continuous Tense Sentences

Following are some rules that must be followed to form Sentences in Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

• First, write the Subject or doer of the action.
• Then, write the helping “had been” with all types of Singular & Plural Number Nouns and Pronouns.
• Then, write 3rd Verb to show that the action was completed.
• Then, write the Object on which the action was performed.
• Then, write the remaining words if there are any.

Helping Verbs of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Perfect Continuous Tense has only the following single helping verb, which is used to represent actions that have started during the past period, and still going on during past time. This means that the action was not completed yet.

• Had been

“Had been” As Helping Verb in Past Perfect Continuous Tense

“Had been” is used as a helping verb with all Singular & Plural Number Nouns and Pronouns(I, We, You, They, He, She, It) to indicate the Past progressing actions that have started during past time and still going on during the past time. Thus Past Perfect Continuous Tense Sentences with “had been” as a helping verb have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+had+been+1st Verb+ing+Object+Remaining Words

Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Assertive, Negative, Interrogative, and Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense have the following Sentence Structural formulas.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense takes “had been” as a helping verb with all Singular & Plural Number Nouns and Pronouns(I/We/You/They/He/She/It). Thus, Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+had+been+1st Verb+ing+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Following are some examples of Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. I had been studying for the exam all night.
2. We had been living in that house for five years.
3. You had been working at the company for two years.
4. They had been waiting for the bus for over an hour.
5. He had been reading that book since morning.
6. She had been preparing the meal since afternoon.
7. The kids had been playing in the park before it started to rain.
8. She had been feeling unwell for days before she went to see a doctor.
9. They had been saving money for 7 years to buy a new car.
10. He had been driving since morning, so he decided to take a break.

Negative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense takes “not” between a helping verb “had” and “been” to indicate the negative nature of actions that have started during past time, but still continue during the past time. Thus, Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+had+not+been+1st Verb+ing+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Negative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Following are some examples of Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. I had not been cooking dinner for two hours before the guests arrived.
2. We had not been practicing guitar every day before we joined the band.
3. You had not been thinking about the problem all day before finding a solution.
4. They had not been arguing for a while before they finally made up.
5. He had not been waiting for her call when the power went out.
6. She had not been feeling tired all week before she took a day off.
7. The team had not been training for months before the competition.
8. The artist had not been working on the painting for a year.
9. She had not been traveling across Europe for months.
10. He had not been waiting for her call since morning.

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense takes “had” at the start of Sentences and “been” comes after the Subject of the Sentences. Thus, Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

Had+I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+been+1st Verb+ing+Object+Remaining Words+?

Examples of Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Following are some examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. Had I been considering a job change before I got promoted?
2. Had we been watching the movie for an hour before the power went out?
3. Had you been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes before it finally came?
4. Had they been discussing the project for weeks before they reached an agreement?
5. Had he been jogging every morning before he injured his ankle?
6. Had she been dreaming of this day for years before it finally happened?
7. Had the children been building a sandcastle when the tide came in?
8. Had the workers been fixing the road for several days before it was reopened?
9. Had I been considering a job change before I got promoted?
10. Had the scientist been researching the topic for years before publishing her findings?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense takes “had” at the start of Sentences and “not been” comes after the Subject of the Sentences. Thus, Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

Had+I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+not+been+1st Verb+Object+Remaining Words+?

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Following are some examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences in Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. Had I not been studying French for three years before moving to Paris?
2. Had we not been playing football for an hour before it started to rain?
3. Had you not been writing her novel for months before you finally completed it?
4. Had they not been walking through the forest since morning before they found the campsite?
5. Had he not been trying to solve the puzzle for days before he gave up?
6. Had she not searched for a new apartment for weeks before finding one?
7. Had the dog not been barking all night before it finally calmed down?
8. Had she not been painting the living room before she decided to take a break?
9. Had I not been waiting for the letter to arrive when I received an email instead?
10. Had the neighbors not been arguing for hours before they finally made peace?