Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

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

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

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

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 chased
D	had been chasing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

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

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

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

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

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.