Past Perfect Continuous Tense Definition, Affirmative, Negative and Interrogative Sentences

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Definition, Affirmative, Negative and Interrogative Sentences

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense, which everyone who decides to learn English should learn, is used to emphasize the events that took place in a certain process in the past tense. In other words, the Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used for situations where the actions that are done continuously are done in the recent past.

How to Make Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

If you want to make a regular sentence with Past Perfect Continuous Tense, there is a pattern you need to use for a sentence with this tense, this pattern is “had been”. This pattern used for the Past Perfect Continuous Tense is not a special pattern for this Tense. The words had in the first state and been in the first state are used.

The main verb used in Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used in a simple form and the suffix “-ing” is added to this verb. In other words, in order to construct a sentence with the Past Perfect Continuous Tense, the subject-had-been-verb+ing order should be made.

What are Past Perfect Continuous Tense Grammar Rules?

Affirmative Sentences: When constructing a positive sentence with the Past Perfect Continuous Tense, the phrase “had been” is used regardless of the subject. You should pay attention to the fact that the next verb is in the first form and that the suffix “-ing” is added to this verb.

• Sophia had been studying at the University of California when she got high grades.
• Ryan had been working out at the gym every day before he had surgery because of his health problems.
• Emma and Matthew had been looking for a country to live after their wedding when they were married.
• Jason had been playing the guitar and singing songs for ten years when Jason joined the competition and he won.

Negative Sentences: Regardless of the subject, the phrase “had been” takes the suffix “not” in negative sentences. In other words, the phrase “had not (hadn’t) been” is used in negative sentences. It is very important to use the verb in its first form and to use the “-ing” suffix to the verb.

• Isabella had not (hadn’t) been studying well until she got bad grades.
• The meeting had not (hadn’t) been ended until the CEO interrupted the meeting.
• I had not (hadn’t) going to the different restaurant until it was closed forever.
• We had not (hadn’t) been feeling well because all we had COVID.

Interrogative Sentences: A question sentence in which Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used begins with the auxiliary verb “had”, then the subject to be used is used. Then “been” is used, and lastly, the verb in its first form and with the “-ing” suffix is ​​used.

• Had you been skating when you were younger?
• Had Elsa been listening to her songs until she realized that her songs need to improve?
• Where had Jonathan been going to?
• Had Chris and Olivia been studying to learn Japanese very well in order to live and work in Japan?