Past Perfect Continuous Exercises PDFSet 3: Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous
20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.When we arrived, the film ___ (start).
a) had startedb) had been startingc) startedd) was starting
2.She ___ (work) at the company for twenty years when she retired.
a) workedb) was workingc) has workedd) had been working
3.I felt sick because I ___ (eat) an entire box of chocolates.
a) had been eatingb) atec) was eatingd) had eaten
4.Her eyes were red and her cheeks were still wet because she ___ (cry).
a) criedb) had been cryingc) was cryingd) had cried
5.By the time I got home, my sister ___ (cook) dinner.
a) was cookingb) had been cookingc) had cookedd) cooked
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.had started
2.had been working
3.had eaten
4.had been crying
5.had cooked
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."had started"(a)
Use Past Perfect 'had started' for a completed action. The film began before we arrived (single completed event).
2."had been working"(d)
Use Past Perfect Continuous 'had been working' to emphasize the duration of the action (twenty years) before a past event ('she retired'). 'Has worked' (Present Perfect) is wrong because the situation is entirely in the past.
3."had eaten"(d)
Use Past Perfect 'had eaten' because the quantified object ('an entire box') emphasizes the completed result, not the duration of eating.
4."had been crying"(b)
Use Past Perfect Continuous 'had been crying' because the visible, ongoing evidence ('eyes were red', 'cheeks were still wet') points to a recent continuous action, not just a completed one.
5."had cooked"(c)
Use Past Perfect 'had cooked' if the dinner was finished and ready when you arrived.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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