Learning English

Continuous or simple?

In some situations it's possible to use either the past perfect continuous or past perfect simple with very little change in meaning. This is true for single activities which are seen to last for some time.

Patrick felt refreshed because he had been sleeping all afternoon.
Patrick felt refreshed because he had slept all afternoon.

In some cases though, there are clear differences. For example when describing a repeated action compared to a single action. This is true for activities when were not really interested in how long they took. Our focus is more on the result of the activity rather than its duration.

Someone had been smashing car windows = A repeated action
Someone had smashed my car windows = A single action

We use the continuous form for actions that continue for some time or are unfinished by a particular time or event in the past.

I'd been looking for a copy of that book for ages when I saw one in a charity shop.

We prefer the simple form when talking about an action that was completed before a particular time or event in the past.

I'd given up hope of finding a copy of that book when out of the blue I saw one in a charity shop.

Read the text and complete the activity

Reported speech

The past perfect continuous is also used in reported speech when the past continuous is used in direct speech.

Direct speech: "I was getting on the plane when I realised I'd left my passport in the departure lounge."

Reported speech: She told me that she'd been getting on the plane when she realised she'd left her passport in the departure lounge.

To do

Have you ever woken up early with the feeling that something wasn't quite right?

In the activity you are going read about such a situation. You will need to finish the story by choosing the best option to complete each sentence.

Next

Now you've done so well in the quiz, why not listen to Neil and Catherine with 6 Minute Grammar? Let's hope they don't have any troubles such as flat tyres or flooded rooms!