⏮️Past Perfect Continuous Practice Quiz

🎯B2 Level ESL Quiz

💡This quiz tests your understanding of the Past Perfect Continuous tense. Remember:

  • Use had been + verb-ing to show an action that was ongoing before another past action
  • This tense emphasizes the duration and continuous nature of an action in the past
  • It often explains the cause or reason for a past situation

⏱️Choose the best answer for each sentence!

1️⃣Question 1
By the time my boss arrived, I __________ for two hours.
✅Correct Answer: had been working
💭Use Past Perfect Continuous to show the duration of work before the boss arrived. The action was continuous and emphasizes "for two hours".
2️⃣Question 2
She was tired because she __________ all day.
✅Correct Answer: had been working
💭Past Perfect Continuous explains the reason for her tiredness. The continuous working "all day" caused the result (being tired).
3️⃣Question 3
We finally got on the bus after we __________ in the rain for 30 minutes.
✅Correct Answer: had been waiting
💭Past Perfect Continuous shows the ongoing action of waiting that happened before getting on the bus. The duration "for 30 minutes" is emphasized.
4️⃣Question 4
Before they moved to Canada, they __________ English for two years.
✅Correct Answer: had been studying
💭Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes the continuous preparation (studying) before moving to Canada. The duration "for two years" makes this tense most appropriate.
5️⃣Question 5
When I got home, my brother __________ video games for hours.
✅Correct Answer: had been playing
💭Past Perfect Continuous shows he was playing continuously before you arrived home. The duration "for hours" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.
6️⃣Question 6
Her clothes were dirty because she __________ in the garden.
✅Correct Answer: had been working
💭Past Perfect Continuous explains the cause of dirty clothes. The continuous activity in the garden resulted in the visible evidence.
7️⃣Question 7
I was very hungry because I __________ anything all day.
✅Correct Answer: hadn't been eating
💭Past Perfect Continuous (negative form) emphasizes the continuous lack of eating throughout "all day," which explains the hunger.
8️⃣Question 8
The ground was wet because it __________ all night.
✅Correct Answer: had been raining
💭Past Perfect Continuous shows the continuous rain throughout "all night" that resulted in the wet ground. It explains the cause of the current state.
9️⃣Question 9
When we finally found the restaurant, we __________ for almost an hour.
✅Correct Answer: had been walking
💭Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes the duration and continuous nature of walking before finding the restaurant. "For almost an hour" highlights the extended period.
🔟Question 10
He lost the match because he __________ much that week.
✅Correct Answer: hadn't been practicing
💭Past Perfect Continuous (negative) emphasizes the lack of continuous practice during "that week," which explains why he lost the match.
1️⃣1️⃣Question 11
My friends were angry because I __________ their calls.
✅Correct Answer: hadn't been answering
💭Past Perfect Continuous (negative) shows the continuous pattern of not answering calls over a period, which explains their anger.
1️⃣2️⃣Question 12
She looked very nervous because she __________ to the audience before.
✅Correct Answer: hadn't been speaking
💭Past Perfect Continuous (negative) emphasizes the lack of experience/practice speaking to audiences, which explains her nervousness.

Great job completing the quiz! Review the explanations above to understand any mistakes.