Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition & Useful Examples

Past Perfect Continuous in English and past perfect continuous examples. Learn the definition and how to form the past perfect continuous tense with useful examples and ESL printable infographics.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Perfect Continuous Definition

The Past Perfect Continuous tense is used to express something that started in the past and continued until another time in the past.

Forming Past Perfect Continuous

Positive Statements | Past Perfect Continuous

SUBJECT HAD BEEN VERB + ing REST OF THE SENTENCE
I had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
You had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
He had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
Tom had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
The boy had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
She had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
Anna had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
The girl had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
We had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
You had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
They had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.
The children had been standing at the bus stop for thirty minutes.

Notice that we use ‘had been’ and the verb + ing the same for all subjects.

Negative Statements | Past Perfect Continuous

SUBJECT HAD NOT BEEN VERB + ing REST OF THE SENTENCE
I had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
You had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
He had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
Tom had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
The boy had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
She had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
Anna had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
The girl had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
We had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
You had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
They had not been exercising at the gymnasium.
The children had not been exercising at the gymnasium.

Notice that we use ‘had not been’ and the verb + ing form for all subjects.

Interrogative Statements | Past Perfect Continuous

HAD SUBJECT BEEN VERB + ing REST OF THE SENTENCE
Had I been waiting for a long time?
Had you been waiting for a long time?
Had he been waiting for a long time?
Had Tom been waiting for a long time?
Had the boy been waiting for a long time?
Had she been waiting for a long time?
Had Anna been waiting for a long time?
Had the girl been waiting for a long time?
Had we been waiting for a long time?
Had you been waiting for a long time?
Had they been waiting for a long time?
Had the men been waiting for a long time?

Past Perfect Continuous Chart

Past Perfect ContinuousPin

Past Perfect ContinuousPin

Past Perfect ContinuousPin

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Rihan
Rihan
4 years ago

this rly helpfull

Elizabeth Ware
Elizabeth Ware
1 year ago

Wonderful resource, very clear and informative, thank you for sharing it.

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