Past Perfect Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Perfect Continuous

(had been + present participle)

Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 1

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

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

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	have you been studying
B	had you been studied
C	had 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

___ you ______ ______ anything before you got sick?

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.