Past Perfect Continuous Tense Example Sentences

The past perfect continuous tense is used to talk about actions that were happening over a period of time before another past event. It helps to describe duration, cause, and background actions in storytelling and conversations. In this blog post, you will learn example sentences, including positive, negative, and question forms, to understand this tense better and use it correctly in English.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense in English

The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past, continued for a certain period of time, and ended before another action in the past. The structure for the past perfect continuous tense includes a subject, “had been,” the verb’s present participle (verb + ing), and the time frame.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Structures:

• Positive Sentence Structure: Subject + had been + verb (ing) + time reference
• Negative Sentence Structure: Subject + had not been + verb (ing) + time reference
• Question Sentence Structure: Had + subject + been + verb (ing) + time reference?

Example Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous

No.	Positive Sentence	Negative Sentence	Question Sentence
	Subject + had been + verb (ing) + time reference	Subject + had not been + verb (ing) + time reference	Had + subject + been + verb (ing) + time reference?
1.	He had been reading a book for two hours.	He had not been reading a book for two hours.	Had he been reading a book for two hours?
2.	They had been playing football since morning.	They had not been playing football since morning.	Had they been playing football since morning?
3.	She had been cooking dinner before the guests arrived.	She had not been cooking dinner before the guests arrived.	Had she been cooking dinner before the guests arrived?
4.	We had been waiting for the bus for half an hour.	We had not been waiting for the bus for half an hour.	Had we been waiting for the bus for half an hour?
5.	John had been practicing piano for a year.	John had not been practicing piano for a year.	Had John been practicing piano for a year?
6.	I had been studying all night before the exam.	I had not been studying all night before the exam.	Had I been studying all night before the exam?
7.	They had been traveling around Europe for two weeks.	They had not been traveling around Europe for two weeks.	Had they been traveling around Europe for two weeks?
8.	We had been cleaning the house before the party started.	We had not been cleaning the house before the party started.	Had we been cleaning the house before the party started?
9.	She had been exercising for an hour before breakfast.	She had not been exercising for an hour before breakfast.	Had she been exercising for an hour before breakfast?
10.	He had been fixing the car all afternoon.	He had not been fixing the car all afternoon.	Had he been fixing the car all afternoon?
11.	They had been living in that house for five years.	They had not been living in that house for five years.	Had they been living in that house for five years?
12.	She had been learning Spanish for a month.	She had not been learning Spanish for a month.	Had she been learning Spanish for a month?
13.	We had been working on the project for days.	We had not been working on the project for days.	Had we been working on the project for days?
14.	He had been running every morning before work.	He had not been running every morning before work.	Had he been running every morning before work?
15.	I had been thinking about that all day.	I had not been thinking about that all day.	Had I been thinking about that all day?
16.	They had been playing chess for two hours.	They had not been playing chess for two hours.	Had they been playing chess for two hours?
17.	She had been writing her novel for six months.	She had not been writing her novel for six months.	Had she been writing her novel for six months?
18.	We had been planning a surprise party for him.	We had not been planning a surprise party for him.	Had we been planning a surprise party for him?
19.	He had been repairing the bike for three hours.	He had not been repairing the bike for three hours.	Had he been repairing the bike for three hours?
20.	I had been waiting for the call all morning.	I had not been waiting for the call all morning.	Had I been waiting for the call all morning?
21.	They had been discussing the issue for hours.	They had not been discussing the issue for hours.	Had they been discussing the issue for hours?
22.	She had been painting the room before we arrived.	She had not been painting the room before we arrived.	Had she been painting the room before we arrived?
23.	We had been practicing for the concert all week.	We had not been practicing for the concert all week.	Had we been practicing for the concert all week?
24.	He had been playing the guitar since noon.	He had not been playing the guitar since noon.	Had he been playing the guitar since noon?
25.	I had been looking for my keys for an hour.	I had not been looking for my keys for an hour.	Had I been looking for my keys for an hour?
26.	They had been arguing for days before they reconciled.	They had not been arguing for days before they reconciled.	Had they been arguing for days before they reconciled?
27.	She had been saving money for a vacation.	She had not been saving money for a vacation.	Had she been saving money for a vacation?
28.	We had been waiting in line for two hours.	We had not been waiting in line for two hours.	Had we been waiting in line for two hours?
29.	He had been studying English for six months.	He had not been studying English for six months.	Had he been studying English for six months?
30.	I had been cleaning the house all day.	I had not been cleaning the house all day.	Had I been cleaning the house all day?

Past Perfect Continuous Examples

No.	Positive Sentence	Negative Sentence	Question Sentence
	Subject + had been + verb (ing) + time reference	Subject + had not been + verb (ing) + time reference	Had + subject + been + verb (ing) + time reference?
31.	They had been building the house for two years.	They had not been building the house for two years.	Had they been building the house for two years?
32.	She had been preparing for the exam for a week.	She had not been preparing for the exam for a week.	Had she been preparing for the exam for a week?
33.	We had been talking for hours before dinner.	We had not been talking for hours before dinner.	Had we been talking for hours before dinner?
34.	He had been playing video games all afternoon.	He had not been playing video games all afternoon.	Had he been playing video games all afternoon?
35.	I had been waiting for her call for an hour.	I had not been waiting for her call for an hour.	Had I been waiting for her call for an hour?
36.	They had been preparing the presentation all day.	They had not been preparing the presentation all day.	Had they been preparing the presentation all day?
37.	She had been learning French for six months.	She had not been learning French for six months.	Had she been learning French for six months?
38.	We had been talking about the event for days.	We had not been talking about the event for days.	Had we been talking about the event for days?
39.	He had been working on the project since last week.	He had not been working on the project since last week.	Had he been working on the project since last week?
40.	I had been planning the trip for months.	I had not been planning the trip for months.	Had I been planning the trip for months?
41.	They had been discussing the proposal for hours.	They had not been discussing the proposal for hours.	Had they been discussing the proposal for hours?
42.	She had been practicing the song for a week.	She had not been practicing the song for a week.	Had she been practicing the song for a week?
43.	We had been thinking about moving to a new house.	We had not been thinking about moving to a new house.	Had we been thinking about moving to a new house?
44.	He had been waiting for his turn for hours.	He had not been waiting for his turn for hours.	Had he been waiting for his turn for hours?
45.	I had been working at the company for five years.	I had not been working at the company for five years.	Had I been working at the company for five years?
46.	They had been making preparations for the event.	They had not been making preparations for the event.	Had they been making preparations for the event?
47.	She had been practicing her speech all night.	She had not been practicing her speech all night.	Had she been practicing her speech all night?
48.	We had been waiting for the results all morning.	We had not been waiting for the results all morning.	Had we been waiting for the results all morning?
49.	He had been jogging every morning before work.	He had not been jogging every morning before work.	Had he been jogging every morning before work?
50.	I had been searching for my wallet all day.	I had not been searching for my wallet all day.	Had I been searching for my wallet all day?
51.	They had been fixing the roof before the storm hit.	They had not been fixing the roof before the storm hit.	Had they been fixing the roof before the storm hit?
52.	She had been practicing yoga for a year.	She had not been practicing yoga for a year.	Had she been practicing yoga for a year?
53.	We had been organizing the files for hours.	We had not been organizing the files for hours.	Had we been organizing the files for hours?
54.	He had been painting the fence before it rained.	He had not been painting the fence before it rained.	Had he been painting the fence before it rained?
55.	I had been waiting for you all day.	I had not been waiting for you all day.	Had I been waiting for you all day?
56.	They had been renovating the house for two months.	They had not been renovating the house for two months.	Had they been renovating the house for two months?
57.	She had been swimming every day last summer.	She had not been swimming every day last summer.	Had she been swimming every day last summer?
58.	We had been planning the wedding for a year.	We had not been planning the wedding for a year.	Had we been planning the wedding for a year?
59.	He had been painting the picture for weeks.	He had not been painting the picture for weeks.	Had he been painting the picture for weeks?
60.	I had been learning to play the guitar for a month.	I had not been learning to play the guitar for a month.	Had I been learning to play the guitar for a month?
61.	They had been discussing the plan for days.	They had not been discussing the plan for days.	Had they been discussing the plan for days?
62.	She had been reading that book for a week.	She had not been reading that book for a week.	Had she been reading that book for a week?
63.	We had been playing chess before dinner.	We had not been playing chess before dinner.	Had we been playing chess before dinner?
64.	He had been working in the garden all morning.	He had not been working in the garden all morning.	Had he been working in the garden all morning?
65.	I had been drawing a picture before the lights went out.	I had not been drawing a picture before the lights went out.	Had I been drawing a picture before the lights went out?

Examples of Past Perfect Progressive Tense

Read More

• 100 Past Continuous Sentences
• 100 Example Sentences of Simple Past
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense Sentences