Unit 16 · Past perfect continuous (I had been doing)
16.1
Read the situations and make sentences using the words in brackets
1Tom was very tired when he got home. (He / work / hard all day) He’d been working hard all day.(Example)
2
The children came into the house. They had a football and they were both very tired. (They / play / football)
3
I was disappointed when I had to cancel my holiday. (I / look / forward to it)
4
Anna woke up in the middle of the night. She was frightened and didn’t know where she was. (She / have / a bad dream)
5
When I got home, Mark was sitting in front of the TV. He had just turned it off. (He / watch / a film)
6
The people waiting at the bus stop were getting impatient. The bus was very late. (They / wait / a long time)
16.2
Read the situations and complete the sentences
Readthesituationsandcompletethesentences.
1We played tennis yesterday. We didn’t finish our game. We’d been playing (We / play) for half an hour when it started (it / start) to rain.(Example)
2
I had arranged to meet Tom in a restaurant. I arrived and waited for him to come. (I / wait) for 20 minutes when (I / realise) that (I / be) in the wrong restaurant.
3
Sarah worked in a company for a long time. The company no longer exists. At the time the company (go) out of business, Sarah (work) there for twelve years.
4
I went to a concert. Soon after the orchestra began playing, something strange happened. The orchestra (play) for about ten minutes when a man in the audience suddenly (start) shouting. Now make your own sentence:
5
I began walking along the road. I when
16.3
Which is right
1It was noisy next door last night. Our neighbours were having / had been having a party. (were having is correct)(Example)
2
At the end of our journey we were extremely tired. We were travelling / We’d been travelling for more than 24 hours.
3
James was on his hands and knees on the floor. He was looking / He’d been looking for his contact lens.
4
Sue was sitting on the ground. She was out of breath. She was running / She’d been running.
5
John and I went for a walk. He was walking / He’d been walking very fast and I had difficulty keeping up with him.
6
I was sad when I sold my car. I’ve had it / I’d had it for a very long time.
7
I was sad when my local cafe closed. I was going / I’d been going there for many years.
8
I’m running a marathon next month. I’ve been training / I’d been training for it every day.
9
I had arranged to meet Kate, but I was late. When I finally arrived, she was waiting / she’d been waiting for me. She was annoyed because she was waiting / she’d been waiting such a long time. 10a Joe and I work for the same company. He joined the company before me. When I started a few years ago, he was already working / he’d already been working there. 10b I started working at the company a few years ago. At the time I started, Joe was already working / had already been working there for two years. 10c Joe still works for the company. He’s been working / He’d been working there a long time now. ➜ Additional exercises 5–8 (pages 304–07)