General knowledge
What is the formula for past perfect?
Had + [past participle].
Example: “If I had woken up earlier, I wouldn’t miss the school bus.”
Refer to the example. Why is past perfect used / What is the purpose of using past perfect?
The past perfect is used in the part of the sentence that explains the condition (the if-clause).
What are indications of the usage of Past Perfect Continuous?
When, for, since, and before are used alongside the past perfect continuous tense.
What is Past Perfect?
A verb tense used to talk about something that happened before something else that is in the past.
Example: I had attended the carnival for years without spending much money.
Refer to the example. What is past perfect usually used for?
This example indicates that the action began and ended in the past. Additionally, the event also lasted for a period of time (duration) but has now ended.
What does Past Perfect Continuous express?
This tense expresses the five words: “Past in the Past.”
What is the formula for Past Perfect Continuous?
Had been + [present participle (root form of verb + -ing].
Example: I wish I returned the book before the library closed.
Refer to the example.nWhat can Past Perfect do to help present the speaker’s feelings?
This example indicates an event that did not actually happen. The speaker shows dissatisfaction with his / her decision and states the action assuming it has occurred.
Example: Tom was tired because he had been exercising.
Refer to the example. What is a reason / purpose why Past Perfect Continuous is used?
Using the past perfect continuous before another action in the past shows cause and effect.
What is Past Perfect Continuous?
A verb tense that shows an action that started in the past, continued up until another time in the past.
Example 1: We were relieved that Tom used paint.
Example 2: We were relieved that Tom had used paint.
Refer to the examples. What is the difference in using simple past and past perfect?
The past perfect in the second example makes it clear that one is talking about a specific instance of using paint.
Example 1: The car had been belonging to Tom for several years. (This is WRONG.)
Example 2: The car had belonged to Tom for several years. (This is CORRECT.)
What are somethings that cannot be included in the Past Perfect Continuous tense / What is wrong with the first sentence?
Non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses.
When / why do we use Past Perfect?
The past perfect suggests something more permanent than the past perfect continuous, which can imply that something is temporary.
Example: If one’s friend asked him what else did he do this morning besides missing the school bus, he / she would be confused if he said:
I had written my homework too.
Refer to the example. Why shouldn’t Past Perfect be used?
The friends are likely to be waiting for him / her to go on to describe what happened next because using the past perfect implies that his / her action of writing the homework occurred before something else happened.
Example 1: Tom had been training for two hours already by the time we arrived.
Example 2: Tom had been reading the novel just before class started.
Refer to the example. What are the major significance of Past Perfect Continuous?
People often use already with past perfect continuous to emphasize that the action happened earlier. People also use just to show that the action happened a very short time before.