Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

Martha ____ _____ _________ her English for two hours before her class started.

A	have practiced
B	had been practicing
C	has been practicing
D	had been practiced

Question 1 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 2

Linda failed the class because she ____ ____ _______ to the teacher.

A	was always listening
B	hadn't listened
C	wasn't listening
D	had not been listening

Question 2 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 3

How long ____ you ____ ______ English before you took the IELTS Exam?

A	had you been studying
B	had you been studied
C	has you been studied
D	have you been studying

Question 3 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 4

She ___ ____ _______ for only ten minutes when it started to rain.

A	was only gardening
B	had been gardening
C	has just gardened
D	has been gardening

Question 4 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 5

Karen gained a lot of weight because she ___ ____ _______ over the holidays.

A	had been overeating
B	has eating everything
C	has been overeating
D	have overeaten

Question 5 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 6

Lucy _____ _____ ______ at the factory for only two months when it went out of business.

A	had been worked
B	was working
C	will be working
D	had been working

Question 6 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 7

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

A	hasn't been sleeping
B	have not been sleeping
C	haven't slept
D	had't been sleeping

Question 7 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 8

Bobby miss the train because he ___ ____ _____ too slow to the station.

A	had been walking
B	have been walking
C	had walked
D	has been walking

Question 8 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 9

She ___ ____ ______ of her Prince long before he showed up on horseback.

A	often dreams
B	has dreamed
C	have been dreaming
D	had been dreaming

Question 9 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 10

___ you ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

A	Had you been eating
B	Have you ate
C	have you been eating
D	Did you eat

Question 10 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 11

Mariya ____ _____ ______ for three years before she felt confident enough to perform in front of people.

A	has been dancing
B	will be dancing
C	has danced
D	had been dancing

Question 11 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 12

You did great on the exam because you ___ _____ ______ to the teacher.

A	were listening
B	have always listened
C	had been listening
D	was listening

Question 12 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 13

The dog ___ ____ _____ the rabbit when it ran down it's hole.

A	had chased
B	has been chasing
C	had been chasing
D	was chasing

Question 13 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 14

How long ___ the baby ____ _______ before the ambulance arrived?

A	had the baby been crying
B	has the baby been crying
C	did the baby cry
D	was the baby cryng

Question 14 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Question 15

Carlos ____ ___ ______ for six hours when he caught his first fish.

A	has fished
B	has been fishing
C	had been fishing
D	will be fishing

Question 15 Explanation:

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Unlike the Present Perfect Continuous, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

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There are 15 questions to complete.