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B1-B2

How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous – a Mini English Lesson

British Council | English

205K views 3 months ago

Warm-up Questions

When you see the words “Past Perfect Continuous,” what do you think the lesson will teach you to do?
Do you think grammar “mini lessons” are helpful? Why or why not?
What’s one English tense that you find confusing, and why?

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Start With: Word Definition

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How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous – a Mini English Lesson

Why this tense exists + the basic form (00:00 – 01:01)

Transcript will load here…

1. How do some people react to hearing about the “past perfect continuous” at the beginning?

They say it’s easy and everyone already knows it.
They joke that it’s like a “remix” or unnecessary new version.
They say it’s only used in writing, not speaking.
They say it has many different verb forms depending on the subject.

2. What does the speaker say about changing the verb form based on the subject?

You must change the verb form for he/she/it.
You change it only with irregular verbs.
You don’t have to change the verb form based on the subject.
You only change it in questions.

3. What is the correct form of the past perfect continuous given in the lesson?

had + verb (past form)
had + been + verb-ing
have/has + been + verb-ing
was/were + verb-ing

How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous – a Mini English Lesson

Meaning: ongoing action up to a past point + cause and effect (01:01 – 01:32)

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1. According to the lesson, what does the past perfect continuous highlight?

Completed actions with no connection to time
Actions that will happen in the future
Events that were ongoing in the past and continued up to another past point
Habits in the present

2. In the example about the company, what is the “another point in the past”?

When the speaker quit the company
When the speaker got the promotion
When the speaker applied for the job
When the speaker started the job

3. Why was the person tired in the example?

Because she had been jogging for five hours
Because she had jogged once
Because she had been sleeping for five hours
Because she was going to jog later

How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous – a Mini English Lesson

Past perfect continuous vs. past perfect simple (01:32 – 02:39)

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1. What does the past perfect simple focus on, according to the speaker?

A repeated habit over many years
A future plan in the past
The activity and how long it goes on for
The completion of the event

2. When the speaker says “I had been working … before I got the promotion,” what extra idea is emphasized?

The promotion happened first.
The speaker didn’t like the job.
The company was small.
The work and effort over time, and that it helped lead to the promotion.

3. At the end, how does the speaker respond to the comparison about wanting appreciation?

They change the topic.
They say “Exactly.”
They disagree and say it’s not correct.
They say it depends on the subject.

How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous – a Mini English Lesson

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1. Which situation best fits the past perfect continuous?

I finished my homework, then I watched TV.
I study every day after school.
I had been studying for hours before the exam started.
I am studying right now.

2. Why might someone choose the past perfect continuous instead of the past perfect simple?

To focus on the activity/duration leading up to a past point
To make the verb irregular
To avoid using time expressions like “for” or “since”
To talk about future predictions

3. Which sentence shows past cause and effect using the past perfect continuous?

She had jogged tomorrow.
She was tired because she had been jogging for five hours.
She was tired and she will jog later.
She is tired because she jogs a lot.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous – a Mini English Lesson

Do you agree that the past perfect continuous “gets a lot of hate”? Why do you think learners dislike it?
Make two sentences about your life: one with past perfect simple and one with past perfect continuous. What difference in meaning do you want to show?
Think of a time you felt tired or stressed. Describe it using cause and effect with the past perfect continuous.
In your opinion, is it more useful to focus on grammar forms or on meaning/usage? Explain.