Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

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

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

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

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

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	have overeaten
B	had been overeating
C	has eating everything
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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I ____ _____ ______ very long when you called.

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

___ you ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

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

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.