Past Perfect Continuous Tense in English


Past Perfect Continuous Tense in English




Past Perfect Continuous Tense indicates a past action which started in the past and continued to happen after another action and time in the past. Namely, Past Perfect Continuous Tense tell us “how long the action had continued”. ” the duration of the action”  is emphasized more in this tense.

POSITIVE FORM (+) :

Subject + HAD BEEN + Ving

NEGATIVE FORM (-) : 

Subject + HAD + NOT + BEEN ( HADN’T BEEN ) + Ving

QUESTION FORM (?) : 

HAD+ Subject + BEEN + Ving

NEGATIVE QUESTION FORM (?) :

HAD + NOT + Subject + BEEN + Ving

SHORT ANSWER FORMS ( + / – ) :

YES / NO + Subject + had / had not ( hadn’t )




POSITIVE(+)NEGATIVE(-)POSITIVE QUESTION (?)NEGATIVE QUESTION (?)
He had been studyingHe had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad he been studyingHadn’t he been studying
She had been studyingShe had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad she been studyingHadn’t she been studying
It had been studyingIt had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad it been studyingHadn’t it been studying
I had been studyingI had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad I been studyingHadn’t I been studying
You had been studyingYou had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad you been studyingHadn’t you been studying
We had been studyingWe had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad we been studyingHadn’t we been studying
They had been studyingThey had not (hadn’t) been studyingHad they been studyingHadn’t they been studying