Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Use the past perfect continuous for an action that was ongoing before another action or point in the past, with emphasis on duration. Form it with had + been + verb-ing.
The rule
had + been + verb-ing
Right and wrong
I had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally came.
I had waiting for an hour when the bus finally came.
Don't forget "been" between "had" and the -ing verb.
She had been working there for five years before she resigned.
She had been work there for five years before she resigned.
The main verb must end in -ing.
They had been playing for two hours before it started to rain.
They have been playing for two hours before it started to rain.
Use "had", not "have", when the reference point is in the past.
He was tired because he had been running for an hour.
He was tired because he had running for an hour.
Keep "been" in the sentence — it's part of the tense.
Practice
1. I ___ (study) for three hours before I took a break.
2. She was out of breath because she ___ (run).
3. They ___ (wait) for two hours when the doctor finally called them in.
4. How long ___ you (learn) English before you moved abroad?
5. The ground was wet because it ___ (rain) all night.
Practise in the app
Day to Day English lets you practise grammar inside real situations, with audio and a story to follow.