Sentence structure: Past perfect continuous

In this chapter

• When do we use it?

  It describes an activity that had been going on for some time before a past event; it stresses the duration or the result it left.

• Past perfect continuous

  activity going on until then; the past event (V2)

  Pattern: Subject + had been + verb + -ing

  Example: We had been walking for two hours when we finally saw the lake.

  Example: She had been practicing for months before the concert.

• Formula

  Positive: They had been waiting for an hour. · Negative: We hadn't been waiting long when the bus came. · Question: Had you been waiting long? · Short answer: Yes, I had. / No, I hadn't.

• Color-coded examples

  First the long walk, then seeing the lake.

  Example: We had been walking for two hours when we saw the lake.

  Example: The streets were wet because it had been raining.

• Turkish equivalents

  Example: We had been waiting for half an hour when the bus came.

  Example: He was tired because he had been playing soccer all day.

• Tip

  Past perfect or past perfect continuous? How many, was it finished? → had + V3 (She had read three books). For how long? → had been + -ing (She had been reading for three hours).