Lesson content
Read, practise, then check your understanding
Use had been plus -ing. It emphasizes how long an activity continued before a past reference or explains a past result. State verbs usually prefer past perfect simple.
Patterns and examples
- They had been waiting for an hour when the bus arrived.
- Her eyes hurt because she had been reading.
- He had known her for years. (state)
Notice how form and meaning work together. Read examples aloud, identify the controlling word or clause, and compare them with nearby alternatives before applying the pattern in new writing.
Practice sentences
- Write a sentence showing prior duration.
- Choose simple or continuous perfect for a state verb.
After answering, explain the rule in your own words and create one original sentence using the same structure.
Knowledge check
Answer every question correctly to complete this chapter.
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