Past Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises

Ex. 18. (A, B) Put the verb in brackets into the Past Perfect Continuous.

1. Clouds (gather) all day and now rain came down in sheets. 2. “I’m coming all right,” said Mr Dilinger, who (shiver) for the last ten minutes. 3 .1realized that he had come away with me in order to discuss once more what he already (discuss) for hours with his sister-in-law.4.1slowly released a breath and only then realized that I (hold) itfor some time.

Ex. 19. (B) Put the verb in brackets into the Past Indefinite, the Past Perfect and the Past Perfect Continuous.

1. When I (leave) home, the snow already (stop). 2. It(be) 6 p.m. and Jack (be) tired because he (work) hard all day. 3. He clearly (listen) to our conversation and I (wonder) how much he (hear). 4. She (say) she (teach) atthis school for twentyyears. 5. He (say) hejust (finish) the book he (read) all this time. 6. The postman (come) after lunch and (bring) me a letterwhich I (expect) for a long time. 7. It(rain) since the morning, and the fields (be) quite muddy.

Ex. 20. (А, В, C) Answer the questions.

Examples: Did you work at your English yesterday?Yes. Idid.

How long had you been working at your English before you went for awalk? (for an hour) Ihad been working at mv English foran hour.

67

1.Did it rain yesterday? _____________________________

How long had it been raining when you left home? (for 3 hours)

2.Did she work at the University before she retired?_______________

How long had she been working there before she retired? (for 25 years)

3.Did you stay at the hotel when you were in London?_____________

How long had you been living there when Jane arrived? (for a fortnight)

4.Did they study French before they went to France?_______________

How long had they been studying it before theywent there? (for 5 years)

5.Did they work on their book last year?_______________________________

How long had they been working on it before they sent it to the publishing house? (for 2 years)__________________________________________________

6.Did your brother play football yesterday?________________________________

How long had he been playing football before hetook part intheworld championshipfor the first time? (for 6 years)__________________________________________

7.Did he listen to that record yesterday?____________________________

How long had he been listening to it before he could understand all the words? (for an hour)_______________________________________________

8.Did the children walk in the wood in the morning?____________________

How long had they been walking before you called them back? (for 2 hours) _

Ex. 21. (A, B) Make up sentences according to the pattern.

Example: You came home. Your children were watching television. (they/not/do/any work) - They hadn't been doing any work.

1.Brother and sister came home with angry faces, (they/quarrel/on the wav home)

2.There was nobody in the flat. But a delicious smell of fresh bread was in the air. (Mother/bake/bread)

3.Mary closed her eyes. She felt very tired, (she/read/too long)

4.You came home from a party. You were nearly dropping on your feet, (vou/dance/all night)

5.When I looked at my typewriter, I saw a sheet of paper in it. (somebodv/use/mv tVDewriter)