What is the past perfect continuous tense?

How do you form the past perfect continuous tense?

To form the past perfect continuous tense, use 'had been' followed by the verb in its -ing form. For example, 'They had been playing soccer before it started to rain.'

Identify the correct use of the past perfect continuous tense: 'He _____ (run) for an hour when it started to rain.'

The correct sentence is 'He had been running for an hour when it started to rain.' This shows that the action of running was ongoing before the rain began.

What is the difference between the past perfect continuous and the past perfect tenses?

Choose the correct form: 'They _____ (wait) for the bus for 30 minutes when it finally arrived.'

The correct form is 'They had been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes when it finally arrived.' This indicates the action of waiting was ongoing before the bus arrived.

Fill in the blank: 'I _____ (study) for two hours before the test started.'

'I had been studying for two hours before the test started.' This usage highlights the duration of studying prior to the test.

Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect continuous tense?

'By the time the meeting started, they had been discussing the project for over an hour.' This shows that the discussion was ongoing before the meeting began.

Identify the error in this sentence: 'She has been working at the company for five years before she got promoted.'

The correct form should be 'She had been working at the company for five years before she got promoted.' The past perfect continuous tense is needed to show the duration of her work before the promotion.