Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

___ you ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

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

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

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

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

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	has been fishing
B	has fished
C	will be fishing
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.