Page 40 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Positive Form: Subject + had been + present participle of verb (+ ing) + the
rest of the predicate

Negative Form: Subject + had not + present participle form of the verb (+ ing)
+ the rest of the predicate
1. We use the past perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that was
happening in the past before another action or before a specific point of time in
the past. For example,

• Uma had been learning Bharatanatyam for eight years when she gave her first
public recital.
• Suparna had been skating for an hour when her sister came by to call her home.

2. We usually use when to introduce the second part of the action. For example,
• She had been sleeping in peace when there was a power cut.

Note
The past perfect continuous is used to emphasise upon a duration or a length of time.
For example,
• Parvati had been working as Mr Street’s assistant for thirty-two years when she
suddenly decided to quit.

We can also use the past perfect continuous tense to cite a reason for an action or a
feeling in the past. For example,
• Sujata was very sleepy when she reached the examination hall—she had been
studying hard for the two previous nights.

L. Fill in the blanks using the past perfect or the past perfect continuous form of
the verbs in the brackets.

I’m sorry I left without you last evening, but I told you to meet me early because
the recital started at 9:00 p.m. I (try) a) to get passes for that

play for a year. By the time I finally left the library where we were supposed

to meet, I (wait) b) for over an hour. I had to leave because I
(arrange) c) to meet Neepa in front of the theatre.

When I arrived at the theatre, Neepa (pick, already) d) up the

passes and she was waiting for us at the entrance. She was really upset because

she (wait) e) for more than a quarter of an hour. She said she

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