Past Perfect Continuous exercises

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Type 1: Multiple Choice (ABC)
Choose the correct option (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence.
1
She ___ (work) at the company for ten years before she got promoted.
2
They ___ (argue) for hours before they finally reached an agreement.
3
I ___ (wait) for over thirty minutes when the train finally arrived.
4
By the time we found the restaurant, we ___ (walk) in circles for ages.
5
He ___ (not/sleep) well before he changed his mattress.
6
We ___ (explore) the cave for nearly an hour when we discovered the hidden chamber.
7
She ___ (study) all night, so she was exhausted during the exam.
8
They ___ (live) in that village for decades before the flood forced them to leave.
9
He ___ (not/exercise) regularly before the doctor warned him.
10
She ___ (search) for her passport when she found it in her bag.
11
We ___ (drive) for six hours when we finally saw a sign for the hotel.
12
The journalist ___ (investigate) the case long before the police took action.
13
What ___ you ___ (do) before you got the call?
14
___ they ___ (argue) before you entered the room?
15
Why ___ she ___ (cry) before the guests arrived?
Type 2: True / False Statements
Check the sentence. Select True or False.
1
She had been working at the company for ten years before she got promoted.
2
They had been argue about money for hours before they made peace.
3
I had been waiting for the bus when it suddenly started snowing.
4
He had been not sleeping well for weeks before he saw a doctor.
5
We had been exploring the forest for hours before we found the river.
6
Had you been working on the presentation before the deadline changed?
7
She was been crying before I arrived.
8
They hadn’t been practicing enough, so their performance was weak.
9
I had been go to that café every day before it closed.
10
Why had she been avoiding me before the meeting?
11
We had working on the report before the manager called.
12
By the time the guests arrived, I had been cooking for three hours.
13
He hadn’t been feeling well lately, so he stayed home.
14
Had they being travelling together before the accident?
15
She had been study abroad when the pandemic started.
Type 3: Fill in the gaps
Fill in the gaps using the correct form of the verb.
1
She on the book for years before it was finally published.
2
They to each other before the meeting.
3
How long she before the race?
4
I anxious because I had been waiting for hours.
5
He engineering before he changed his major.
6
We efficiently before the new manager arrived.
7
they the event for long before it was cancelled?
8
She for apartments before she found the perfect one.
9
I regularly before I joined the gym.
10
Why you my messages before yesterday?
11
The cat under the bed for hours before it came out.
12
They attention during the whole lecture.
13
What he before the boss arrived?
14
I my thesis before the power went out.
15
She to fix the printer all morning when the technician came.

What are the best Past Perfect Continuous tense exercises?

There are numerous kinds of workouts that take place in learning English, and for you, it is advisable to use some of them that fit your goals and expectations. Here, you will find the core types of Past Perfect Continuous tense exercises that are popular among students:

Type Implementation Pros Example

Gap-fill

It is a perfect way to learn grammar through written texts, reinforcing how the Past Perfect Continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that continued to some point in the past.

  • Practice correct sentence structure 
  • Enhance the usage and understanding of time markers 
  • Improve focus on the text

He ______ Math for two years before he applied for this scholarship.

had been studying 

Find a mistake

Errors are common for the learning process, so this kind is used to make you more confident.

  • Spot and fix the tense form
  • Find similar structures 
  • Understand the difference between similar tenses

Incorrect:   I was being working out all morning before the work started.

Correct:   I had been working out all morning before the work started.

Word order

The Past Perfect Continuous tense has a tricky and unique structure that can be learnt with this type of exercise.

  • Improve skills in grammatical accuracy 
  • Gain confidence in daily communication 
  • Enhance understanding skills for tests

had / working / she / been / class / quietly / in / before / the / left / I 

She had been working quietly in the class before I left

How to use Past Perfect Continuous practice to improve your grammar?

The core secret of becoming fluent in English is practice — everywhere you can, dedicating the amount of time that is suitable for you, whether it will be 5 minutes to recall words in memory or an hour of doing Past Perfect Continuous exercises with answers provided by Koto English. 

Remain engaged, discipled, and reflect on new knowledge; that is how progress is made in learning English and other languages. Here are some tips for you to make the most out of our workouts: 

  • Do not guess the answer and focus on the task.
  • Review your mistakes and define the reason you made them. 
  • Analyze sentence structure clearly. 
  • Focus on the concept and how it influences texts. 

Using our sheets, you are able to practice grammar and reading based on real-world situations: telling about your experience, describing some background information, and being more fluent in speaking. 

What to expect from a Past Perfect Continuous tense test?

First of all, you will demonstrate how you operate the sentence structure of Past Perfect Continuous, if you use it straightforwardly, and if you understand the context and concepts of the idea in every text. 

Secondly, you can expect Past Perfect Continuous activities aimed at your ability to differentiate Past Perfect and Continuous tenses. It helps you to prevent confusion when talking with foreigners and communicate better in emails, chats, or just common conversations. 

Depending on the level of your knowledge, you will be introduced to exercises of different levels, from A1 to C2, allowing you to make progress continuously. Moreover, you will learn new words, phrases, and idioms according to your capabilities. 

How often should you take a Past Perfect Continuous quiz to track progress?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer as it depends on your goals and level of knowledge. However, we have noticed that practice is your best friend when studying English. Here is a comparison table that will help you define the practice terms:

Goal Frequency of tests

General learning 

Every 2–3 months 

Preparation for international exams (IELTS, Cambridge, etc.)

Every 2 weeks 

Intensive learning with short deadlines 

Every week 

Preparation for specific events (interview or otherwise) 

Every week or every few days (depending on the timeframe available) 

Therefore, you will be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and pay more attention to types of tests that require more time. Remember that all learners demonstrate different progress, so do not get demotivated and stick to your routine. You will do it! 

What are the most effective Past Perfect Continuous activities for daily practice?

When you combine the learning of various aspects, you receive a comprehensive advantage of studying. Koto provides exercises for everyday activities, and you can accomplish them in minutes, practicing your English every day. 

Here, you focus on reading and understanding the concepts, writing through interactive workouts that are aimed at improving sentence structure, vocabulary enhancement, as well as listening to the pronunciation of different words and sentences. 

With Koto, you learn how to use the language daily, gaining new knowledge with fun and personalization.