Past perfect continuous tense in English
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
This chapter will discuss the past perfect continuous tense in English. This tense is used to describe actions that were going on in the past until another action in the past occured.
To form the past perfect continuous the past perfect of the verb 'to be' is used followed by the present participle of the main verb (verb + ing).
had been + present participle (infinitive + ing)
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
How the past perfect continuous is formed, depends on whether the sentence is:
Structure: Subject + past perfect of 'to be' (had been) + present participle (verb + suffix 'ing') + rest of the sentence
The table below shows the conjugation of the past perfect of the verb 'to be'.
Subject | Past perfect of 'to be' |
---|---|
I | had been |
You | had been |
He / she / it | had been |
We | had been |
You | had been |
They | had been |
Structure: Subject + negative form of the past perfect of 'to be' (had not been) + present participle (verb + suffix 'ing') + rest of the sentence
The table below shows the conjugation of the past perfect of the verb 'to be' in the negative form.
Subject | Conjugation of 'to have'+ negation + 'been' |
---|---|
I | had not been |
You | had not been |
He / she / it | had not been |
We | had not been |
You | had not been |
They | had not been |
Structure: Past perfect of 'to be' (have) + Subject + Past participle of the verb 'to be' ('been') + present participle (verb + suffix 'ing')+ rest of the sentence + question mark
The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that were going on in the past until another action in the past occurred. The table below shows the different situations in which the past perfect continuous is used.
Situation | Examples |
---|---|
Something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past. |
|
To show cause and effect. |
|
The past perfect continuous refers to an ongoing action in the past until another action in the past occured. This tense is usually accompanied by the following signal words:
Test your knowledge of the present perfect continuous with the exercises below!
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
I have an Honours degree in Quantity Surveying from the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I have 2 years experience in tutoring in University. The beauty of teaching English online is that there is often an exchange between student and teacher beyond the content of the lesson plan itself. I will be interacting with students of all ages from a variety of nationalities which gives me an opportunity to learn about their languages. My teaching method is I do, you do and we do, this method allows me to interact fully with my students and make the lessons more fun and easy to understand.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I loved learning english with Teacher Pumeza. She is kind, she is patient and involves me in the lesson. I like that she involved me in making a lesson plan. Her connection was perfect and I could hear her nicely.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi everyone! My name is Morena a passionate traveller and a languages enthusiast!
My mother tongue is Italian, and I was born and raised in the beautiful region of Marche in central Italy. I lived abroad for 15 years, and spent 12 of them in the wonderful London.
I am a certified Celta teacher at Strafford House School in London and I have recently obtained the Ditals certification from the University of Siena for teaching Italian as a foreign language.
What are my lessons like? I normally teach students of all levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced). I love to use everyday situations to teach common expressions useful for communication as well as vocabulary and grammar. I adapt different teaching methods and approaches according to my students' learning needs, interests and background. I can help you with exam preparation (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, and all Cambridge or IELTS exams), also I can create business or technical language lessons if you have this need.
I provide tailor-made lessons because I believe that every student is different and needs a special and fun method to learn a language with a purpose. If you would like help please contact me with your questions or goal, then we can discuss the best strategy and flexible plan to become fluent in Italian or English! Speak soon. Ciao, a presto!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Morena generally teaches to adults, but she also has experience with teaching children. She has different learning materials and personalizes her classes to her students wants and needs. She is very patient. Furthermore, she teaches English and Italian to all levels (A1 to C2)
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I have struggled learning Spanish in the past, but Catherine has helped me understand and connect with the material. She is creative, professional, and sincerely interested in helping her students with their personal learning goals. And she has been to so many different places! I find that so inspiring. Her experience has given her a great perspective. I look forward to learning from her in the future. Thank you, Catherine!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello! I am a CELTA-qualified native English teacher offering lessons carefully tailored to your needs. Learn by dynamic conversation exchange, written pieces, songs lyrics, podcasts, and fun and challenging exercises.
I have a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and have been rock climbing for about 25 years. As an Italian language learner myself, I believe that talking about your passions is one of the most effective ways of mastering a new language. I look forward to hearing about your interests!
I offer a free 15-minute meeting to discuss your personal goals for learning. Let’s work together to bring you closer to those English language goals!
-Parlo italiano-
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Melissa is a teacher with great empathy. She clearly enjoys teaching English and does this in a very professional manner.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
This is Kezia , she is a Native English Speaker who loves meeting new people and learning about countries and their cultures. She has over 8 years of teaching experience both in the classroom and online, she is able to teach from age 20 years old to age 80 years old, teaching from the beginner level to the advanced level student. She has a customized teaching skill set that is unique to all her students as each student has different learning goals and needs as well as each student has different strengths. She teaches in a fun, relaxed, easy and simple way that will have you more confident and be able to communicate much better after a few lessons. She is able to teach you grammar,writing,reading and pronunciation.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Kezia has taught to all ages and backgrounds. She has over 8 years of teaching experience. Furthermore, she adjusts her classes to the needs of every individual student. She teaches to all levels (A1-C2). She is very enthusiastic and ready to help you learn the English language!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My aim is to help as many people achieve their goal of learning English. 10+ years of tutoring experience(classroom and 1-1). Have taught from kindergarten to senior secondary as well as doing communication and pronunciation correction with adults.
I will start were you are … ABC's, colours, numbers and beginner reading OR reading with comprehension, grammar and sentence structure or just plain communication focusing on pronunciation, tenses, and general grammar.
For the little ones I use flash cards, puppets, star chart, etc to keep them involved and interested in the lesson. For the older students I find out where their interests lay, and what their requirements are, and work my lessons around that. As long as you are interested, you will learn.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Susan is a new teacher and eager to help you learn or improve your English. She is very patient, and you'll surely feel comfortable in her presence.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello!
Do you want to learn Italian from zero or improve your language level? Do you need to pass a language certification's exam?
My name is Alessio, and I am and experienced Italian instructor with passion for my job.
Contact me, and we can discuss together a customized plan of lessons.
Alessio
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I learn Italian with Alessio and I would say that it's a great experience. He is a very thoughtful teacher who puts a lot of thought into how he presents the material. He paces me just right so I feel myself challenged but not overwhelmed. His lessons are engaging, useful, and he is very patient. I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in learning Italian.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi! I am Francesca and have a degree in specialised translation and interpreting cum laude. I have been working in the field of translation and teaching for about three years.
I am a foreign language teacher and a tutor for courses leading to language certifications recognised by the Common European Framework. I also teach Italian to foreigners and am a CELI examiner. My academic training and professional experience have enabled me to develop a successful teaching method tailored to the needs of each learner, ensuring excellent results in a short time in all four language skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading).
I hope to see you soon at your first free class to start your linguistic and cultural growth.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
She's very smart, professional, and pretty. She quickly understood my need as a learner and I had fun talking with her. She creates an atmosphere in class that makes students feel free to speak. Will book again.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Have you always dreamed of becoming an expert in the English language? Now you can!
I am a sworn translator and have more than 15 years of experience. Together with me you will be a near native speaker in no time!
My name is Wendy and I have been working as a sworn translator and reviser in the English and Dutch language for more than 15 years. In addition, I occasionally help students and pupils with their lessons, young and old.
Would you also like to become a language professional? Or do you just want to be able to get by in the English or Dutch language, and especially want to practice speaking? Then you're in the right place with me. I would be happy to help you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Wendy is an enthusiastic new teacher. She is very patient and has a passion for the languages she teaches. She has lots of useful learning materials, and you will certainly feel welcome in her class.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello! I am a CELTA-qualified native English teacher offering lessons carefully tailored to your needs. Learn by dynamic conversation exchange, written pieces, songs lyrics, podcasts, and fun and challenging exercises.
I have a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and have been rock climbing for about 25 years. As an Italian language learner myself, I believe that talking about your passions is one of the most effective ways of mastering a new language. I look forward to hearing about your interests!
I offer a free 15-minute meeting to discuss your personal goals for learning. Let’s work together to bring you closer to those English language goals!
-Parlo italiano-
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
she is a professional mother language teacher. She is strongly problem solving oriented. She offers a wide range of tools to learn the language. She has a nice way of teaching.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi, name is Laura. I come from a small town near Manchester, UK, though I now live in Bulgaria with my husband and two small children. I am an avid reader of fiction and am also particularly interested in current affairs, politics, psychology and education. I teach English full time and thoroughly enjoy my work. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring the Bulgarian countryside, cooking and learning Bulgarian.
Me as a Teacher
I am a qualified teacher with a BSc in Applied Psychology. I have been teaching English for 15 years and have worked with all ages and abilities. My lessons are very communicative and with a strong focus on speaking. I really enjoy getting to know my students and I try to incorporate their hobbies and interests into our lessons.
For the majority of my teaching career I have worked with teenagers and young adults. I have taught hundreds of young people and have found that they enjoy and respond well to my relaxed teaching approach. I am particularly well-suited to helping young people progress and have confidence in their ability.
My Lessons & Teaching Style
My teaching style is open and friendly. I encourage students to speak as much as possible and guide them through their use of English. All of my lessons are tailor-made according to the needs of my students. Whether it is conversation practice, grammar study or exam preparation (specifically KET/PET/FCE), I can help.
Each of my lessons is designed with clear learning objectives and I use a variety of learning methods/materials to make my lessons interesting and to reinforce what we have covered.
I believe learning should be fun and rewarding and students should be able to feel their own personal progress after each lesson. I genuinely care about the development every one of my students.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Laura has over 15 years of teaching experience. She can teach you more than only the language, but also the culture that comes along with it. She adjusts all her classes to your needs! Furthermore, she offers a wide variety of interactive learning materials like for example videos, songs or grammar exercises. She is eager to help you study, and you will surely learn a lot from her!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Valerie has over 17 years of teaching experience. She is also a DEFL examinator. This makes her the perfect person to help you prepare for an exam. She is very kind and patient, and you will surely learn a lot from her!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello!
I am Teacher Adan and I want you to speak and write English / Spanish. I have worked as an English teacher for more than 3 years with different groups and ages. I have also taught private classes, prepared students for international certifications and improved speaking in one to one lessons. The vast majority of my students succee when we work together as a team in the journey of learning a foreign language. As a result of my years of preparation and practice, I have got a university degree where I had the chance to teach subjects from my career in my senior year as well. I obtained a couple of certifications of trainings and seminars that I have been invited to and I recently obtained an international teaching certification (TEFL) and the English proficiency certificate in C2 level (advanced).
But let's focus on you and your interest in speaking a new language, I invite you to become part of my multiple students and finally be able to communicate in a different language even if your purpose is either for business, education or just for fun.
In my classes I involve my students with topics they are interested in, so that by the moment of speaking it is easy for them to discuss or give their point of view. I use technology to play games such as Kahoot, Google plataform, Charades, Quizizz and Kami. My students are always active producing and doing something so that the class is engaging and dinamic rather than only listening to the teacher. My methodology of work is based on having a learning environment where everyone can ask and participate in the language my students are learning. My main focus is to make everyone understand what I teach and how they can use in real life situations the content I give.
My learning materials are a book updated with the latest methods while learning a foreign language based on Person's content, the on-line tools I mentioned before so my students can develop interactive worksheets, speaking tasks, writings or vocabulary games and you (my student), who is the key to develop a well structured class with learning purposes.
I would love to receive an email from you in case of doubts or confirmation of the schedule for the class and get ready to become the next English / Spanish speaker.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Adan is a very profesional teacher. One of the things I like the most is that he is very flexible person and adapts to my ability. Im really pleased with him.
Adan G.Thanks Nuria. You are such a really good student too and dedicated. See you back in class soon.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello everyone,
I have a master degree in teaching with 10 years of experience. My lessons cover a wide range of topics from science to literature. I create the learning plan according to the learner's needs. If you are looking for both enjoyable and helpful experience in English and Turkish languages for all levels, schedule a meeting with me!
See you..
Merhaba,
10 yıllık öğretmenlik deneyimiyle birlikte, eğitim alanında yüksek lisans mezunuyum. Derslerim bilimden edebiyata kadar geniş yelpazede bir çok konuyu kapsamaktadır. Öğretim planını her öğrencinin ihtiyacına göre, bireysel olarak hazırlamaktayım. Türkçe ve İngilizce dillerinde keyifli ve öğretici bir deneyim yaşamak isteyen herkes derslerime davetlidir.
Görüşmek üzere..
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I took one hour class from Nora B. Teacher and I could say that it was professional and well organized. Teacher ask you first what your purpose is. Then she organizes the schedule. Also she sends lesson materials via email. I deeply recommend her.
Cagla B.Dear Selo, Thank you. I wish you the best of luck and success on your preparation of lELTS exam.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials