Past Perfect Continuous Tense in English Grammar:
Past Perfect Continuous Tense is also known as the Past Perfect Progressive. We use it to refer to an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued till that time in the past.
Past Perfect Tense Structure and Formula: (Rules)
Signal Words:
It is essential to focus on signal words because they help us identify the correct tense in a sentence. The signal words for the Past Perfect Continuous Tense are:
for, since, the whole day, all day…,
Usage of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
It is used:
To refer to an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued till that time in the past.
Examples:
- They had been living in Bihar for two years before the earthquake occurred.
- I observed that she had been reading the novel for 2 hours.
- I knew that he had been riding the horse for many days.
When we change Direct Speech into Indirect speech, Present Perfect Continuous and Past Continuous Tenses are changed to Past Perfect Continuous.
Examples:
- My friend said to me.” I have been attending the classes for two hours”.
- My friend told me that he had been attending the classes for two hours.
- She said to him,” I was listening to music when you visited me”.
- She told him that she had been listening to music when he had visited her.
Note:
Sometimes the Past Perfect is used in place of the Past Perfect Continuous with stative verbs.
Examples:
- They had been in this branch for two years.
- I had heard the noise from the street for one hour.
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