Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Definition : The past perfect continuous corresponds to the present perfect continuous, but with reference to a time earlier than 'before now'. As with the present perfect continuous, we are more interested in the process.

Unlike the present perfect continuous, which indicates an action that began in the past and continued up to the present, the past perfect continuous is a verb tense that indicates something that began in the past, continued in the past, and also ended at a defined point in the past.

1. Verbal form, the formula are      : (+) Subject + had been + Verb Ing + Object
                                                          Example : I had been doing the homework
                                                         (-) Subject +had not (hadn’t)+ been  + Verb Ing + Object
                                                         Example : they had not been doing their homework
                                                         (?) Had + Subject+been +verb Ing?
                                                         Example : Had you been doing your homework ?
                                                        (-?) Hadn’t + Subject+ verb Ing + Time Signal?
                                                        Example : Hadn’t we been doing the homework ?
2. Nominal Form, the formula are: (+) Subject + had been+ (Adjective/Noun/Adverb+Prep (ANAP)+TS
                                                         I had been clever before now. (Adjective)
                                                         we had been  students last year ( Noun)
                                                         They had been here a week ago    (Adverb)
                                                         He had been  on the river last day   (preposition)
                                                        (-) Subject + Had not been (hadn’t been) +ANAP+TS
                                                        
                                                          I had not been  clever before you taught me . (Adjective)
                                                         we had not  been  students by time you worked ( Noun)
                                                         They had not been  here a before you arrived    (Adverb)
                                                         He was not on the river after you went   (preposition)
                                                        (?) Had + Subject + been +ANAP + TS?
                                                        Had I been clever before now.? (Adjective)
                                                         Had  We been students after them? ( Noun)
                                                         Had they been here  by your father worked  ?  (Adverb)
                                                        Had he  on the river before I did ?  (preposition)

                                                      (-?) Hadn’t+ Subject+ been + ANAP+(TS)? 
                                                     
                                                        Hadn’t I been clever before now.? (Adjective)
                                                        Hadn’t  We been students last year? ( Noun)
                                                         Hadn’t they been here a week ago  ?  (Adverb)
                                                         Hadn’t  he  been on the river last day ?  (preposition)