Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

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

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

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 ___ the baby ____ _______ before the ambulance arrived?

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

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

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 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

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 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

___ you ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

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

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

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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	has been overeating
C	have overeaten
D	had 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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	had been gardening
B	was only gardening
C	has just gardened
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

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

A	had been dreaming
B	have 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 ____ you ____ ______ English before you took the IELTS Exam?

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

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.