An action that started in the past, and continued up until another time or action

in the past:

They had been flying for eight hours before they finally reached New York.

We had been struggling for several years before the business finally took off.

He wasn't hungry because had had been eating all day long.

He had been partying all night, so he fell asleep in class.

You had been sitting there for more than an hour before he arrived.

Janet had been working there for almost a year when they fired her.

We were thirsty because we had been working out outside in the heat.

Luke gained weight because he had been eating pizza three times a day.

READING 1

Story 1
By Really Learn English Visit the Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
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Who are they? What had they been doing? Where had
they been going?
Donald and Elizabeth had been driving to church before they stopped. They had
been driving down a dirt road when they heard a strange noise. Donald stopped
the car. He got out of the car. Then, he helped Elizabeth out of the car. Elizabeth
sat and waited for Donald.
REDING 2

Story 2
By Really Learn English Visit the Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
Section for More Resources
Where were they? What had they been doing?
Billy and the other scouts had been hiking on the mountain all morning when they
realized they were lost. They looked each direction. They did not see the camp.
They did not see the river.
Past Perfect Progressive Story 2, Page 2
Donald looked at the car. It had been going for an hour or so. He knew how to fix
cars. He had been working as a mechanic for 5 years before he moved to the
country. Donald got his tools. He looked under the hood. It seemed that the
engine had been heating up. He crawled under the car.
Donald had been working on the car for a while when Jake parked beside him.
Jake had been driving home when he saw Donald and Elizabeth on the side of the
road. Jake helped Donald fix the car. Donald thanked Jake for his help. Elizabeth
waved to Jake as they drove away. Thanks to Jake's help, they arrived at church
on time.
The scouts were tired because they had been hiking for four hours. They were
worried because they were lost. They sat down under a tree.
But Billy was not worried. Billy had been hiking these mountains with his dad his
whole life. Billy's dad had been teaching him how to use a compass for three
years. Billy climbed a tree and saw the river. He knew the camp was north of the
river. Billy looked at his compass. He guided the scouts back to the camp.

READING 3

Story 3
By Really Learn English Visit the Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
Section for More Resources
Where was she? What did she do? What had she been
doing?
Lisa slept because she had been feeling very sick. In fact, Lisa had not been feeling
well for three days. Her mother knew something was strange because Lisa had
not been acting normal. She had not been finishing her meals for the past two
days. She had not even been playing with her friends. Past Perfect Progressive
Story 3, Page 2
The doctor visited Lisa. He had been visiting many children since the sickness
arrived. He examined Lisa. He gave Lisa medicine. He talked to Lisa's mother.
Lisa's mother had been praying for a week when Lisa woke up. Lisa looked much
better. She did not feel sick anymore. Everyone was happy that Lisa was better!

READING 4

Story 4
By Really Learn English Visit the Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
Section for More Resources
Where was he? What did he do? What had he been doing?
Patrick had been playing the banjo for about 15 years. Many years ago, his
grandfather played the banjo in a band. He taught Patrick how to play the banjo
when Patrick was just 10 years old. Patrick had been practicing the banjo ever
since. He had been playing for his friends and family for many years. Past Perfect
Progressive Story 4, Page 2
Last night, Patrick played his banjo on a television show. He had been hoping to
be on this show since he first saw it on television 5 years ago. He played in front
of a live studio audience. The audience cheered and clapped for Patrick.
Patrick knew he was good because he had been playing the banjo for a long time.
Now everyone knew that Patrick was a good banjo player.
The mystery story:
Last night I was walking home next to the river thames, when something strange happened to
me. It was late at night and Id had a long and difficult day at work. There was a large full moon
in the sky and everything was quiet. I was tired and lonely and Id just had a few pints of beer in
my local pub, so I decided to stop by the riverside and look at the moon for a while. I sat on
some steps very close to the waters edge and looked up at the big yellow moon and wondered if
it really was made of cheese. I felt very tired so I closed my eyes and after a few minutes, I fell
asleep.

When I woke up, the moon had moved behind a cloud and it was very dark and cold. The wind
was blowing and an owl hooted in a tree above me. I rubbed my eyes and started to get up, when
suddenly I heard a splash. I looked down at the water and saw something. Something terrible and
frightening, and unlike anything Id ever seen before. Something was coming out of the water
and moving towards me. Something green and strange and ugly. It was a long green arm and it
was stretching out from the water to grab my leg. I was so scared that I couldnt move. Id never
been so scared in my whole life. The cold green hand was moving closer and closer when
suddenly there was a blue flash and a strange noise from behind me. Someone jumped onto the
stairs next to me. He was wearing strange clothes and he had a crazy look in his eyes. He shouted
Get Back! and pointed something at the monster in the water. There was a bright flash and the
monster hissed and disappeared.

I looked up at the man. He looked strange, but kind. Dont fall asleep by the river when theres
a full moon, he said The Moon Goblins will get you. Id never heard of moon goblins before.
I didnt know what to do. Who who are you? I asked him. You can call me The Doctor.
He said. I was trying to think of something else to say when he turned around and said, Watch
the stars at night, and be careful of the full moon. I was trying to understand what he meant,
when there was another blue flash and I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, he had
gone.

I couldnt believe what had happened. What on earth were Moon Goblins, and who was the
mysterious Doctor? And why had he saved me? I was determined to find the answers to these
strange questions. I stood up, looked at the moon and quickly walked home.

I Missed my Train! (simple past, third conditional)

I only missed the train by a few minutes. I was annoyed. If I had walked a bit faster, I might
have made my train. If I had left a few minutes earlier, I might have been on time.

Because I missed my train, I had to wait for the next one. I had to wait for an hour and a half.

I bought a cup of coffee and a newspaper. I found a chair to sit on. I drank my coffee and read
the newspaper while I waited for the next train.

It was very frustrating.

My story began when I was studying in primary school precisely in grade 6. At that moment I
was an excellent student for 5 years. I always got rank 1. But my luck changed when a new girl
moved to my school. Her name was Dhila Shahida. We called her Dhila. She was quiet, diligent
and clever. Even later I had to admit that she was smarter than me.

Time ran quickly, and the final exam came. It was my favorite moment, because I was sure that I
would get the highest score again. However, Dhilas score was straight above me. I was really
upset. Since then I felt shes irritating me, but on the one hand, I felt anxious about her. Then
suddenly we began to care each other. Incidentally our house was not too far away. I had a crush
on her, dude!

2 years had passed, now weve never met again. We continued our study in a different school.
One day, I saw her in my school canteen. She enclosed her elementary school diploma, and took
a rest in my school canteen. I was very happy to see her. We talked about the past. Until I
remembered that I had to return my friends book in another class room. After telling her, I left
her for a while. I told her I would be back soon after returning it.

I went back to the canteen, I saw Dhila was still there. Seeing her hair loose, I held her hair and
tied it directly while saying, Hey Dhil, why do not you tie up your hair? Let me braid it, Ok? .
Suddenly she turned and looked at me.

Oh my God, shes not Dhila, but someone whose hair, clothes were similar to Dhilas. I was so
ashamed. I immediately apologized and left her while my friends was laughing at my foolish
face. AS you know, Dhila was my soul mate when I was in elementary school. Dhila, I miss you.
My First Day at Senior High School

That was my first day at senior high school. I studied at Pelita Bangsa senior high school. That
was the first flag ceremony in that school year. I felt so nervous because I would face orientation
program for several days ahead. Some new students came late so that they would get punishment
before they could enter the gate.

After the flag ceremony, I immediately went to the classroom. I saw the awkward atmosphere of
the classroom. I didnt know anyone of them. It seemed that no one was my schoolmate in Junior
High School. I chose to sit in the front side. There was still empty seat. Then, someone came and
sat beside me. She was Putri. She was my chairmate. She was more talkative than me. She
helped me to melt the situation. She was so funny, too. I was so happy to have her as my
chairmate.

I was enjoying my conversation with Putri when suddenly my seniors came to the classroom.
They appointed me to come in front of the classroom and asked me to introduce myself. I was
shocked. I stood up and started to introduce myself. After I had introduced myself, they still
didnt allow me to sit down. They asked me to still stand up there. I was so afraid. I wondered
what they were going to do.

Until the last student finishing his introduction, I still stood up. Few minutes later, one of my
senior, began a conversation with me. He said that I was beautiful but I looked unconfident with
myself, so that they asked me to stand up. They wanted me to see all of the students from in front
and felt that everythings okay. I didnt have to worry anything and I should stood and introduce
myself confidently. I felt touched because of their way. They paid so much attention on me.
Then, they allowed me to sit down. I felt so relieved.

However, unexpectedly they got angry again to me. I didnt know what really happened at that
moment. It was so weird. I tried to keep myself calm. I was really shocked and I didnt know
what my mistake was. I thought that I had done well. Eventually, I saw my class teacher came.
She wanted to know what happened because my classroom was so noisy. I was relieved for the
second time that my teacher could take a handle of that problem. My seniors were out of the
classroom. When my teacher was giving advice for us, I saw two people in front of the door.
They knocked the door.

Surprisingly, they were my parents. When my teacher opened the door, they suddenly sang
Happy Birthday song. I cried. I was shocked. I understood what really happened now. Along
with my parents, my seniors came and brought many foods. All of my friends in the classroom
sang a song for me, too. What a wonderful day. I will never forget that moment. That was so
priceless. Thank you for my parents, my teacher, my seniors, and all of my classmates.
My Old Friend, Badrol

When I was in elementary school, I had a best friend from Malaysia. His name was Badrol. He
was handsome, clever, and very smart. All of my friends and my teachers very loved him.
Although all of people loved him, he didnt become arrogant. He was always kind to all of
people. He also gave a help when people had an obstacle. He was a very good boy.

Badrol and I had a good friendship. I was really glad having friend like him. We came from a
different family background. Although he came from a rich family. But he also still wanted me
to be his friend. He always helped me when I got an obstacle. For example when I was sad
because I got a bad score of English subject, he motivated me to survive and also teach me about
the English subject that I had not mastered. We always went out together in the weekend. We
usually went to a swimming pool and food court. He really like Indonesian tradisional food like
sate and gado-gado. He also always visited my house. Because he really like sate and gado-gado.
I asked my mother to cooked that. We ate those food together, we had fun together with my
family.

One day I was invited by Badrols family to get a holliday. I was surprised because his family
wanted me to visit his hometown in sabah, Malaysia. This was my first experience to go to
Malaysia. After I got an permission from my parents to go there. I and Badrols family went to
Malaysia by plane. At the plane I and Badrol saw the view from the plane windows. Badrol and I
was very happy because the view was very beautiful. When Badrol, his family and I arrived at
Malaysia we got a special response from Badrols family in sabah. I stayed in his uncles home.
The atmosphere in sabah wasnt different from Indonesia, but the taste of tradisional food was
very different. I tasted laksa, nasi lemak, and roti canai. Those was very delicious. The next day I
was invited to go to twin tower. Over there We toke some photos with the beautiful view of twin
tower. After that we went to I city. There were so many play lands over there. We almost visited
all of the play lands.

The next thing that made me more surprised was they invited me to watch final football match
between Indonesian nasional football team against Malaysia nasional football team in bukit jalil
stadium. I was so happy because in the stadium I met many people from Indonesia who watched
that match. Although the final result Indonesian nasional team was lose, I still happy because I
had not imagine if I was not had a friendship with Badrol probably i could not go to Malaysia
and had a great traveling . I never forgot to give thankful to Badrols family because of their
invitation I had the greatest holiday in my life. I also was grateful had a very kind friend like
badrol.