Past Perfect Continuous Tense
The past perfect continuous tense (otherwise called the past impeccable dynamic tense) demonstrates that an activity that began in the past proceeded up until some other time before. The past impeccable ceaseless tense is built utilizing had been + the verb’s available participle (root + – ing).
Dissimilar to the present perfect continuous, which shows an activity that started before and proceeded up to the present, the past impeccable ceaseless is a verb tense that demonstrates something that started previously, proceeded previously, and furthermore finished at a characterized point before.
- He had been drinking milk out the container when Mom strolled into the kitchen.
- I had been working at the organization for a long time when I got the advancement.
Whenever, for, since, and before are words that you may see utilized close by the past flawless nonstop tense.
- Martha had been strolling three miles every prior day she broke her leg.
- The program that was ended had been functioning admirably since 1945.
Cathy had been playing the piano for a long time when she was at long last requested to complete a performance with the neighborhood ensemble.
- He had been tossing rocks at her window for five minutes previously she at long last turned out on the overhang and stated, “Hello, Romeo.”
Elements OF THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The past perfect continuous tense relates to the present perfect continuous tense, however with reference to a period sooner than ‘before now’. Similarly as with the present immaculate persistent, we are more intrigued by the procedure.
Examples
Following are the examples of past perfect continuous tense.
- Had you been holding up some time before the taxi arrived?
- We had been endeavoring to open the entryway for five minutes when Jane discovered her key.
- It had been raining hard for a few hours and the boulevards were extremely wet.
- Her companions had been considering calling the police when she strolled in.
This shape is likewise utilized as a part of announced discourse. It is what might as well be called the past ceaseless and the present ideal persistent in coordinate discourse:
Jane stated, “I have been planting throughout the evening.” = Jane said she had been cultivating throughout the evening.
At the point when the police addressed him, John stated, “I was working late in the workplace that night.” = When the police addressed him, John revealed to them he had been working late in the workplace that night.
Framing THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
The past flawless ceaseless is made out of two components – the past impeccable of the verb to be (=had been) + the present participle (base+ing).
Subject had been verb + ing
I had been walking
Positive
She had been trying
Negative
She hadn’t been sleeping
Interrogative
Had you been eating?
Interrogative negative
Hadn’t they been living?
TO BUY, PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I had been buying I hadn’t been buying Had I been purchasing
You had been buying You hadn’t been buying Had you been purchasing
She had been buying She hadn’t been buying Had she been purchasing
We had been buying We hadn’t been buying Had we been purchasing
They had been buying They hadn’t been buying Had they been purchasing
