Past Perfect Continuous Tense – Detailed Expression

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.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense – Detailed Expression


Past Perfect Continuous Tense - Detailed Expression


POSITIVE (+) NEGATIVE (-) QUESTION (?)
I had been starting I had not been starting Had I been starting
You had been starting You had not been starting Had you been starting
He had been starting He had not been starting Had she been starting
She had been starting She had not  been starting Had he been starting
It had been starting It had not been starting Had it been starting
We had been starting We had not been starting Had we been starting
You had been starting You had not been starting Had you been starting
They had been starting They had not been starting Had they been starting




Past Perfect Continuous Tense - Detailed Expression


Positive Sentences

  • I went there after I had completed the task.
  • She had come late to the school.
  • My father and mother had been married for two years when I was born.
  • Until he went to England, he had never spoken English.
  • If you had studied hard last year, he would have passed all his exams.

Negative Sentences

  • had not completed the task.
  • She had not come late to the school.
  • They  had not  been married when I was born.
  • Until he went to England, he had not  spoken English.
  • You had not  studied hard.

Question Sentences

  • Had you completed the task?
  • Had she come late to the school?
  • Had they been married when I was born?
  • Had he spoken English until he went to England?
  • Had she done her homework?