Austen Spoilers

Present Perfect Continuous vs Past Perfect Continuous

The past perfect continuous corresponds to the present perfect continuous, but with reference to a time earlier than 'before now'. As with the present perfect continuous, we are more interested in the process.

 We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

She has been working at that company for three years. (she is still working)
She had been working at that company for three years. (she doesn't work there any more)

Simple Past vs Past Perfect

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past.
The action that occurred FIRST (earlier in the past) is in the PAST PERFECT. The action that occurred SECOND (nearer the present) is in the SIMPLE PAST.

Before + simple past

After + past perfect

• We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
• The car broke down after we had had it for ten years.

Past Perfect Continuous

Form

had been + present participle

Use

 

Examples

Past Perfect: the Past of the Past

Form

Click on the link below for more information about the Past Perfect Tense

 Grammar Reference (British Council)

Examples

 

I had had breakfast before I went to school.

After I had had breakfast, I went to school.

The History of Christmas

Did you know Christmas wasn't always celebrated on December 25th? 

Get the whole story behind the holiday. Click HERE