Practice - Past Perfect vs. Past Perfect Continuous

The builders _____ the scaffolding around the house. (emphasis on the completion of the action)

• had put up

• had been putting up

The builders _____ the scaffolding when the roof fell in. (emphasis on a continuing or ongoing action after another past action happened)

• had been putting up

• had put up

I _____ an hour for the bus. (emphasis the completion of the activity)

• had waited

• had been waiting

I _____ an hour for the bus. (focuses on the duration of the activity)

• had been waiting

• had waited

She _____ always _____ with her parents. (suggests something more permanent)

• had | lived

• had | been living

She _____ with her parents. (suggests a temporary situation)

• had lived

• had been living

We _____ that car for ten years before it broke down. (used with non-continuous/stative verbs)

• had been having

• had had

By the time Alex finished his studies, he _____ in London for over eight years. (used with non-continuous/stative verbs)

• had been

• had been being

If the past perfect action did occur at a specific time, does it matter if you use past perfect or past simple? Which is correct?

• She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

• Both are correct

If the past perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, does it matter if you use past perfect or past simple? Which is correct?

• She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska.

• She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska.

• Both are correct