past perfct continuous tense
Level Six
Lesson 69
The past perfect continuous tense is a little easier to use than the past perfect tense because there’s no need to remember which form of the past participle to use. The main verb is alway in a continuous form with an “ing” ending. When a verb that is in the past perfect continuous form, it expresses an ongoing action that happens before another past action.
- Sarah said that she had been having problems with her stomach until she saw a doctor and he gave her some medication and a little advice.
the past perfect continuous tense
69a. past perfect continuous tense 
had + been + present participle
The helping verb for the past perfect continuous tense is always “had,” followed by the past participle been, and a present participle for the main verb. In the example below, the main verb is a regular verb: live.
singular
I had been living
You had been living
He had been living
She had been living
It had been living
plural
We had been living
You had been living
They had been living
The past perfect continuous tense is used for an ongoing activity that changes or stops when a second past action occurs. They had been living a quiet life until their country was invaded by a foreign power.
69a. the past perfect tense
had + been + present participle
- The patient had been having problems with his left knee before he had surgery.
- Norma had been taking the bus to work every day until she found an apartment that was within walking distance.
69b. past perfect continuous -- negative
had + not + been + present participle
To make the negative form for this verb tense, add “not” or “never” to the helping verb, had. In the example below, the main verb is work.
singular
I had not been working
You had not been working
He had not been working
She had not been working
It had not been working
plural
We had not been working
You had not been working
They had not been working
Our car had not been working properly until we took it to a mechanic to get it fixed.
69b. past perfect continuous -- negative
had + not + been + present participle
- This little girl had not been behaving herself, so her mother punished her.
- He hadn’t been making enough money at his previous job, so he decided to start his own business, and now he’s very happy.
69c. past perfect continuous -- questions
had + subject + been + present participle
It’s difficult to make questions in the past perfect continuous tense because the past continuous tense is a good alternative and easier to use, but if you choose to use the past perfect continuous tense for questions, they are most likely to be information questions that begin with why, when, where, how, etc. In the examples below, the main verb is survive.
singular
How had I been surviving?
How had you been surviving?
How had he been surviving?
How had she been surviving?
How had it been surviving?
plural
How had we been surviving?
How had you been surviving?
How had they been surviving?
- A: How had the people stranded on the island been surviving before help arrived?
- B: They had been surviving on coconuts and fish.
69c. past perfect continuous-- questions
had + subject + been + present participle
- A: What had they been arguing about?
- B: They couldn’t decide on a new apartment, but finally they found one that they both liked.
- A: Why had she been crying so much?
- B: She was miserable about the death of her husband, but now she’s getting used to not having him around.