Revising Past Perfect Continuous Quiz: Apply Tense

1. Which sentence is incorrect?

He had been practicing piano before the recital.

She had been feeling nervous all day.

They had been finished their work.

We had been preparing for weeks.

Finished cannot follow had been.

Explanation

Finished cannot follow had been.

2. Which revision is correct? Original: I had been write essays all night.

I had been wrote essays all night.

I had been writing essays all night.

I was been writing essays all night.

I had writing essays all night.

Correct verb-ing form is needed.

Explanation

Correct verb-ing form is needed.

3. Which sentence shows incorrect use of since?

He had been working since Monday.

She had been waiting since 3 p.m.

They had been studying since hours.

We had been living there since 2018.

Since must be followed by a specific time, not a length.

Explanation

Since must be followed by a specific time, not a length.

4. Which sentence correctly combines two past actions?

I had been reading when the lights went out.

I had been read when the lights went out.

I was been reading when the lights went out.

I had read when the lights went out.

One action was ongoing before the interruption.

Explanation

One action was ongoing before the interruption.

5. Which time phrase best fits the sentence? They had been arguing ___ the teacher arrived.

Now

Tomorrow

Before

Later

Before signals sequence in the past.

Explanation

Before signals sequence in the past.

6. Which sentence contains a tense error?

She had been exercising regularly.

We had been planning the trip.

He had been drove for hours.

I had been studying math.

Drove should be driving.

Explanation

Drove should be driving.

7. Which sentence best shows duration?

He arrived late.

He was late.

He had been waiting for over an hour.

He waited.

The phrase emphasizes length of time.

Explanation

The phrase emphasizes length of time.

8. Which revision improves clarity? Original: She was tired. She studied all night.

She was tired studying all night.

She had been studying all night, so she was tired.

She studied all night tired.

She was tired and study all night.

The tense clearly links cause and effect.

Explanation

The tense clearly links cause and effect.

9. Which verb does NOT usually work in continuous form?

Run

Study

Know

Work

Know is a stative verb and rarely used in continuous form.

Explanation

Know is a stative verb and rarely used in continuous form.

10. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

He had been knowing the answer.

He had been thinking about the answer.

He had been thought about the answer.

He was been thinking about the answer.

Correct verb choice and tense are used.

Explanation

Correct verb choice and tense are used.

11. Which sentence shows correct word order?

Had been she working late.

She had been working late.

She been had working late.

She working had been late.

Correct auxiliary verb order.

Explanation

Correct auxiliary verb order.

12. Why is the past perfect continuous tense sometimes preferred over past perfect?

It sounds more formal

It focuses on duration rather than completion

It removes verbs

It shortens sentences

Duration is the key difference.

Explanation

Duration is the key difference.

13. Mastering the past perfect continuous tense helps writers

Avoid transitions

Clarify sequences and background actions

Change meaning randomly

Eliminate detail

It improves clarity in past timelines.

Explanation

It improves clarity in past timelines.

14. Which sentence best completes the idea? She was late because she ___ for the bus.

Waited

Was waiting

Had been waiting

Has been waiting

The waiting happened before another past event.

Explanation

The waiting happened before another past event.

15. Which sentence uses the tense most effectively?

I was tired yesterday.

I studied yesterday.

I had been studying all night, so I was tired.

I study every night.

The tense explains the cause of tiredness.

Explanation

The tense explains the cause of tiredness.

Editing Skills: Revising Past Perfect Continuous Usage Quiz

1. Which sentence is incorrect?

2. Which revision is correct? Original: I had been write essays all night.

3. Which sentence shows incorrect use of since?

4. Which sentence correctly combines two past actions?

5. Which time phrase best fits the sentence? They had been arguing ___ the teacher arrived.

6. Which sentence contains a tense error?

7. Which sentence best shows duration?

8. Which revision improves clarity? Original: She was tired. She studied all night.

9. Which verb does NOT usually work in continuous form?

10. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

11. Which sentence shows correct word order?

12. Why is the past perfect continuous tense sometimes preferred over past perfect?

13. Mastering the past perfect continuous tense helps writers

14. Which sentence best completes the idea? She was late because she ___ for the bus.

15. Which sentence uses the tense most effectively?