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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

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

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

___ 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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.