Past Perfect Vs. Past Perfect Continuous
In this article we will compare the following two tenses:
Past Perfect Vs. Past Perfect Continuous
Use Case 1
To talk about the continuity or duration of a situation/activity - We use the past perfect continuous
I had been studying hard since Deepawali when I fell ill.
To talk about the completion of a situation or activity or its effects - We use the past perfect.
I had studied hard after Deepawali, but I became careless after Christmas.
Sometimes the difference between them is simply one of emphasis.
I had been studying hard, so I decided to take a break. (emphasises the activity)
I had studied hard, and the results reflected that. (emphasises the result)
Use Case 2
To talk about how long something went on up to a particular past time - We prefer the past perfect continuous.
We had watched a movie for about five minutes before we realised that we had already seen it. (incorrect)
We had been watching a movie for about five minutes before we realised that we had already seen it. (correct)
To talk about how many times something happened in a period up to a particular past time - We use the past perfect.
We had been watching the movie many times before. (incorrect)
We had watched the movie many times before. (correct)
Some state verbs are not often used with continuous tenses. So, with such verbs we use the past perfect tense.
(even when we are talking about how long something went on up to a particular past time)
I had always been believing that I will become a successful entrepreneur one day. (incorrect)
I had always believed that I will become a successful entrepreneur one day. (correct)
We had been owning the house for a year before we realized that it was a disputed property. (incorrect)
We had owned the house for a year before we realized that it was a disputed property. (correct)