Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises

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The Past Perfect Continuous shows that the action had continued for a certain time previous to the point of the past time named.

Example: I had been reading for an hour when you came to see me.

He had been waiting for two hours when you came.

Structure:
Subject + had been + verb (-ing) + object

Example:

• She had been walking for two hours before lunch.

Exercise 1 (Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises)

Fill in the blanks. Use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. Jaya ________(cut) vegetables when her mother came.
2. Oliver _______(read) the book for two hours.
3. Amelia _____ (sweep) the floor when her guests arrived.
4. Sita_________(eat) an orange before her class started.
5. They ______(buy) books from the book fair since 5.00 pm.
6. He _______(write) a letter before he went to sleep.
7. It__________(rain) since Tuesday.
8. She ______(learn) English for six months.
9. He_________(clean) his room for two hours.
10. Mohan ______(wash) his clothes before his friends arrived.

Exercise 2 (Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises)

Rewrite the sentences into Past Perfect Continuous.

1. He studied for three hours before sleeping.
2. She waited for the bus for twenty minutes before the bus arrived.
3. Emma drew a picture for an hour before her teacher came.
4. Rajni ironed the clothes when her friend arrived.
5. Ravi rode a horse for an hour before lunch.
6. Jaspreet ran in the park all morning.
7. She exercised for ten minutes before going to work.
8. They sat under the tree for a few minutes when it started raining.
9. She swam in the swimming pool for a long time.
10. He drove all night.

Exercise 3

Change Positive to Negative.

1. She had been cooking all day.
2. He had been listening to music.
3. Charlotte had been thinking about her grandparents.
4. The gardener had been watering the plants.
5. Jack had been cutting the grass for an hour.
6. The teacher had been teaching English.
7. They had been eating apples until then.
8. She had been keeping the clothes in the cupboard.
9. The mechanic had been repairing the car when Sita came.
10. The old man had been sitting under the tree.

Exercise 4 (Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises)

Change Statements into Questions.

1. The boys had been playing football when she came.
2. The baby had been tearing the papers.
3. Henry had been flying a kite all afternoon.
4. They had been living in Spain since 2022.
5. Charlie had been sleeping for an hour.
6. They had been shouting outside the bank.
7. He had been doing his homework all night.
8. Ravi had been buying toys for his brother.
9. They had been dancing in the living room.
10. She had been riding a horse for two hours.

Exercise 5 (Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises)

Complete the Sentences.

1. Before his mother arrived, the boy___________.
2. Until then, he had_______________.
3. Since last Monday, Tina __________.
4. Before that, the children___________.
5. By the time the teacher entered, the students__________.
6. Before the match started, the players_________.
7. Since last year, she __________.
8. Before the guests arrived, Mona ________.
9. For a long time, they _________.
10. By the time his father came, Rahul _____________.

Answers:- (Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises)

Exercise 1

1. Jaya had been cutting vegetables when her mother came.
2. Oliver had been reading the book for two hours.
3. Amelia had been sweeping the floor when her guests arrived.
4. Sita had been eating an orange before her class started.
5. They had been buying books from the book fair since 5.00 pm.
6. He had been writing a letter before he went to sleep.
7. It had been raining since Tuesday.
8. She had been learning English for six months.
9. He had been cleaning his room for two hours.
10. Mohan had been washing his clothes before his friends arrived.

Exercise 2

1. He had been studying for three hours before sleeping.
2. She had been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes before the bus arrived.
3. Emma had been drawing a picture for an hour before her teacher came.
4. Rajni had been ironing the clothes when her friend arrived.
5. Ravi had been riding a horse for an hour before lunch.
6. Jaspreet had been running in the park all morning.
7. She had been exercising for ten minutes before going to work.
8. They had been sitting under the tree for a few minutes when it started raining.
9. She had been swimming in the swimming pool for a long time.
10. He had been driving all night.

Exercise 3

1. She had not been cooking all day.
2. He had not been listening to music.
3. Charlotte had not been thinking about her grandparents.
4. The gardener had not been watering the plants.
5. Jack had not been cutting the grass for an hour.
6. The teacher had not been teaching English.
7. They had not been eating apples until then.
8. She had not been keeping the clothes in the cupboard.
9. The mechanic had not been repairing the car when Sita came.
10. The old man had not been sitting under the tree.

Exercise 4

1. Had the boys been playing football when she came?
2. Had the baby been tearing the papers?
3. Had Henry been flying a kite all afternoon?
4. Had they been living in Spain since 2022?
5. Had Charlie been sleeping for an hour?
6. Had they been shouting outside the bank?
7. Had he been doing his homework all night?
8. Had Ravi been buying toys for his brother?
9. Had they been dancing in the living room?
10. Had she been riding a horse for two hours?

Exercise 5

1. Before his mother arrived, the boy had been doing his homework.
2. Until then, he had been waiting for his friend.
3. Since last Monday, Tina had been preparing for her exams.
4. Before that, the children had been playing in the park.
5. By the time the teacher entered, the students had been talking.
6. Before the match started, the players had been practising.
7. Since last year, she had been learning French.
8. Before the guests arrived, Mona had been decorating the house.
9. For a long time, they had been planning the trip.
10. By the time his father came, Rahul had been watching television.

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