Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

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

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

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

___ you ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

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

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

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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	has the baby been crying
B	did the baby cry
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.