Page 29 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

rdst perlect Conunuous naa oeen aomg) ana
регтест conunuous (i (1 Nad Deen going) ana
had done)
past perfect (I (I had done)
past perfect

Study these sentences with the past perfect continuous:
the
past
sentences
with
these
perfect
continuous:
Study
• They had been expecting the news forfor some time.
had
They
*
news
the
time.
some
expecting
been
wearing
• She had been wearing high-heeled shoes, and herher feet hurt.
been
*
feet
hurt.
She
high-heeled
shoes,
and
had
• Mason was arrested, even though he hadn't been doing anything illegal.
illegal.
arrested,
been
doing
*
though
even
was
hadn't
he
Mason
anything
We use the past perfect continuous when we talk about a situation or activity that happened overover
We use the past perfect continuous when we talk about a situation or activity that happened
a period up to a particular past time, or until shortly before it.
particular
past
shortly
a
until
a
time,
period
up
or
before
it.
to
D Compare how the past perfect continuous and the past perfect are used:
perfect
used:
Compare
are
and
how
past
continuous
past
the
perfect
the

suffering from
flu when she
had
she
when
suffered
from
asthma
She
She had been
• * She had been suffering from flu when she • * She had suffered from asthma when she
young.
was interviewed. was very young.
very
was
was
interviewed.
• I'd been finishing some work in the • ¢ I'd finished all my work, so I had very little
some
work
¢
I'd finished all my work, so I had very little
the
in
I'd
been
finishing
garden and hadn't seen Sue come home. to do.
and
hadn't
home.
come
to do.
garden
seen
Sue
buy the
enough
saved
Bill
to
money
Bill had been saving since Christmas
• * Bill had been saving since Christmas to to • * Bill hadhad saved enough money to buy the
buy a a new bike. bike he wanted.
bike he wanted.
new
bike.
buy

У We use the past perfect continuouscontinuous whenwhen we talktalk about the continuity oror duration of aa situation
about
situation
perfect
We
use
durationof
Q
continuity
the
the
we
past
* * oror activity, and the pastpast perfect to talktalk about the completion of situationsituation oror activityactivity oror its effects.
effects.
of aa
the
its
the
activity,
perfect
and
about
to
completion
Sometimes the difference between them is simply one of emphasis (see also Unit 8A):
between
one
is
Unit
Sometimes
emphasis
of
also
simply
8A):
them
(see
difference
the
• I'd been working hard, so I felt that I deserved a holiday, (emphasises the activity)
felt
been
(emphasises
that
*
hard,
I
I'd
the
so
working
activity)
aholiday.
deserved
I
• I'd worked hard, and the report was now finished, (emphasises the result)
the
now
and
(emphasises
was
result)
hard,
*
I'd
the
finished,
worked
report
past
a
something
went
to
we
particular
If we talk about howhow long something went on up to a particular past time, we prefer the past
If
on
talk
prefer
time,
past
up
we
about
long
the
perfect continuous. If we talk about how many times something happened in a period up to
perfect
If we talk about how many times something happened in a period up to aa
continuous.
particular past time, we use the past perfect
use the past perfect::
past
time,
particular
we
• * TheyThey had been travelling for about 3636hours. (rather(rather than TheyThey had travelled...)
hours,
for
had been
than
had
travelled...)
about
travelling
• We had been looking at the painting for about ten minutes before we realised who the artist
the
about
painting
we
for
realised
looking
artist
We
at
*
had
before
who
minutes
been
the
ten
We
was. (rather(rather than We had looked...)
was.
looked...)
than
had
• * I'd heard the symphony many timestimesbefore. (not I'd been hearing...)
before,
been
the
many
heard
hearing...)
(nof
J'd
symphony
I'd
often,
• * The teacher had let them get away with their bad behaviour once tootoooften. (not ...had been
let
bad
The
once
teacher
away
their
with
had
behaviour
them
(not
...had
been
get
letting them...)
letting
them...)
(see Unit 2A) are not often used with continuous tenses,
However, some verbs that describe statesstates (see Unit 2A) are not often used with continuous tenses,
describe
that
verbs
However,
some
and we use the past perfect with these even when we are talking about how long something went
past
something
long
how
we
about
use
talking
with
are
and
we
when
even
went
the
these
perfect
on up to a particular past time:
time:
to
a
on
past
up
particular
had
believing...)
(not
always
had
been
job.
a
g • * Ihad always believed that it would be easy to get a job. (not I I had always been believing...)
believed that it would be
always
easy
get
to
had owned the car for 6 months before we discovered it was stolen, (not We had been
• * owning...) of the past perfect continuous and past continuous :
We
We had owned the car for 6 months before we discovered it wasstolen. (not We had been
Present perfect continuous;> water was Past perfect and past simple = roof. met met after they when finished)
Owning...)
Compare the use of the past perfect continuous and past continuous:
use
Compare
the
•
When we met Simon and Pat, they had been riding.
(= we met after they had
they
and
we
had
met
had
Simon
been
(=
we
riding.
When
*
Pat,
finished)
•
When we met Simon and Pat, they were riding.
(= we met while they were riding)
riding)
they
were
and
were
we
we
Simon
riding.
(=
met
they
Pat,
while
*
When
(= it was no longer leaking
•
I got home, water had been leaking through the roof.
When
had
water
leaking
When
*
I
home,
longer
got
no
the
was
through
(=
roof.
it
been
leaking
when I got there)
got
I
when
there)
.
•
When I got home, water was leaking through the roof.
(= it was leaking when I got there)
leaking
got
(=
*
there)
got
was
the
home,
through
it
When
I
I
leaking
Present perfect continuous;
=>
FETE]
Past perfect and pest spe