GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE
Past Perfect Continuous

Definition

The past perfect continuous describes an action that was continuing when another action happened.

Example

Gail had been sleeping for an hour when the telephone rang.

Explanation

The past perfect continuous:

• describes an action that is in progress at the time another action happened.
• has the form had + been + verb-ing.
• uses "had" as the auxiliary in questions.
• uses "not" between "had" and "been" in negative past perfect continuous sentences.

Related Sections

Past Perfect
Past Continuous