Which one should I use?
Use the past perfect for an action completed before another past action. Use the past perfect continuous for an activity that continued up to a past time, often showing duration or cause.
I had eaten before 7.
I had been eating for ten minutes.
She had written a story.
She had been writing all morning.
Ask: completed result, or continuing activity?
Completed before a past time?I had cleaned my room before 6.Use past perfect.
Activity continued until then?I had been cleaning for two hours.Use past perfect continuous.
Past result from activity?She was tired because she had been running.Continuous explains the cause.
Use it for earlier completed past actions.
Completed earlierAli had finished before 8 o'clock.The action was complete.
Before another actionMaha had cooked dinner when I arrived.Cooking finished first.
Past resultThey were happy because they had won.Winning happened earlier.
Use it for activity continuing up to a past time.
Duration before past timeI had been waiting for ten minutes.The waiting continued up to then.
Since a starting pointShe had been studying since morning.Activity continued.
Cause in the pastThey were tired because they had been walking.The activity caused the result.
Time words can help.
Past perfect cluesbefore, after, already, by then, by 5 o'clockCompleted earlier in the past.
Past perfect continuous cluesfor, since, all day, all morning, lately, before thenDuration or ongoing activity.
Think meaningWas it complete?
Or was the activity continuing?Meaning matters most.
Or was the activity continuing?Meaning matters most.
Past perfect forms.
AffirmativeI had finished.
She had eaten.had + past participle
She had eaten.had + past participle
NegativeI hadn't finished.
She hadn't eaten.not after had
She hadn't eaten.not after had
QuestionHad you finished?
Had Sara eaten?Move had first.
Had Sara eaten?Move had first.
Past perfect continuous forms.
AffirmativeI had been working.
She had been reading.had been + verb-ing
She had been reading.had been + verb-ing
NegativeI hadn't been working.
She hadn't been reading.not after had
She hadn't been reading.not after had
QuestionHad you been working?
Had Sara been reading?Move had first.
Had Sara been reading?Move had first.
Same verb, different meaning.
I had done my homework by 7.It was finished before 7.Completed earlier.
I had been doing homework for an hour.The activity continued up to then.Duration/process.
Why?Had done = complete.
Had been doing = activity continued.Choose from meaning.
Had been doing = activity continued.Choose from meaning.
Do not mix the forms.
CorrectShe had written a letter before 8.Past perfect.
CorrectShe had been writing all morning.Past perfect continuous.
Not correctShe had writing.
She had been written all morning.Do not mix the forms.
She had been written all morning.Do not mix the forms.
Choose the correct form.
Maha ___ her room before her friend arrived.
Choose the correct form.
Ali ___ his room for two hours before lunch.
Choose the correct question.
___ you been waiting long before the bus came?
Which sentence shows completion?
Choose the best sentence.
Which sentence shows duration?
Choose the best sentence.
Fill five blanks.
Choose past perfect or past perfect continuous. Think about why.
It all morning, so the ground was wet.
I my umbrella before I left.
My friends for an hour.
Omar home before we called him.
Maha her homework before class started.
Mixed question types of 5
Answer all five. Then tap Finish test to see your result sheet.
1. Sentence completion
Before 9, Sara ___ a song.
2. MCQ
Which sentence shows duration before a past time?
3. Type the answer
___ they been working long before you arrived?
4. Type the answer
Ali ___ football for two hours before he rested.
5. MCQ
Which sentence explains why she was tired?
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