Past Perfect Continuous worksheet

1. 1.
   Her eyes were red. She .a) has been cryingb) had been crying
2. 2.
   We for two hours when the guide arrived.a) had been walkingb) have been walking
3. 3.
   He there for ten years before he retired.a) was workingb) had been working
4. 4.
   By noon I three cups of coffee.a) had drunkb) had been drinking
5. 5.
   How long before you found a job?a) had you been lookingb) have you been looking

1. 1.
   I was waiting for an hour when the bus came.
2. 2.
   She had been knowing him for years.
3. 3.
   They had been finished the work.

Write three sentences about your own life in the Past Perfect Continuous. Use one of these words in each.

• for
• since
• all day
• how long
• before
• when
• by the time

1. 1.b) had been crying The red eyes are a past situation, so the activity before it takes had been + -ing.
2. 2.a) had been walking For two hours up to a past moment (the guide arrived).
3. 3.b) had been working For ten years measures time up to a past point.
4. 4.a) had drunk A completed number (three cups) takes the Past Perfect simple.
5. 5.a) had you been looking The search lasted up to a past moment: you found a job.

1. 1.I had been waiting for an hour when the bus came. For an hour measures time up to a past moment, so it needs the perfect continuous.
2. 2.She had known him for years. Know is a state verb, so it isn't used in the continuous.
3. 3.They had finished the work. Had been + -ing is for an ongoing activity; had + participle is for a completed one.

Answers will vary. Check that each sentence follows the rule on page 1, or paste them into Clarigram to have them checked.