Questions in the Past Perfect Continuous

1. Yes/No Questions in the Past Perfect Continuous

AuxiliarySubjectPast ParticipleVerb+ingRemainderYes/NoSubjectAuxiliary (+ n’t)
Hadyoubeenwaitinglong before I arrived?Yes,
No,
No,		I
I
I		had.
had not.
hadn’t.
HadSusanbeenstudyingbefore she went out?Yes,
No,
No,		she
she
she		had.
had not.
hadn’t.
Hadtheybeengoing outfor very long before they married?Yes,
No,
No,		they
they
they		had.
had not.
hadn’t.

2. Questions with question words in the Past Perfect Continuous

Question wordAuxiliarySubjectPast ParticipleVerbRestAnswer
How longhadyoubeentryingto win the lottery, before you won?I had been trying for years.
How longhadtheybeenlivingin London before they left?They had been living in London for 10 years.
Whathadshebeendoingbefore I arrived?She had been helping me.

► Use had with all persons.

► Use the past participle of be: been

► Add –ing to the infinitive.

Explanations

Exercises