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Past Perfect Continuous: Which Action Came First?

Name: Date:

Read the sentence and choose the correct option

  1. She’d been driving a car for an hour before she came to the gas station.
    Which action happened last?
    1. had been driving a car (Past Perfect Continuous)
    2. came to the gas station (Past Simple)
  2. She’d been driving a car for an hour before she came to the gas station.
    Which action happened first?
    1. had been driving a car (Past Perfect Continuous)
    2. came to the gas station (Past Simple)
  3. She’d been driving a car for an hour before she came to the gas station.
    What is the focus of “had been driving a car”?
    1. Duration
    2. Result
  4. He’d been reading a book for two hours before he fell asleep.
    Which action happened last?
    1. fell asleep (Past Simple)
    2. had been reading a book (Past Perfect Continuous)
  5. He’d been reading a book for two hours before he fell asleep.
    Which action happened first?
    1. fell asleep (Past Simple)
    2. had been reading a book (Past Perfect Continuous)
  6. He’d been reading a book for two hours before he fell asleep.
    What is the focus of “had been reading a book”?
    1. Result
    2. Duration
  7. He’d been cleaning the house all day before he sat down to rest.
    Which action happened last?
    1. had been cleaning the house (Past Perfect Continuous)
    2. sat down to rest (Past Simple)
  8. He’d been cleaning the house all day before he sat down to rest.
    Which action happened first?
    1. sat down to rest (Past Simple)
    2. had been cleaning the house (Past Perfect Continuous)
  9. He’d been cleaning the house all day before he sat down to rest.
    What is the focus of “had been cleaning the house”?
    1. Duration
    2. Result
  10. I’d been looking for my keys for half an hour until I found them under the couch.
    Which action happened last?
    1. found them under the couch (Past Simple)
    2. had been looking for my keys (Past Perfect Continuous)
  11. I’d been looking for my keys for half an hour until I found them under the couch.
    Which action happened first?
    1. found them under the couch (Past Simple)
    2. had been looking for my keys (Past Perfect Continuous)
  12. I’d been looking for my keys for half an hour until I found them under the couch.
    What is the focus of “had been looking for my keys”?
    1. Result
    2. Duration
  13. She’d been watching TV for hours until she decided to go to bed.
    Which action happened last?
    1. had been watching TV (Past Perfect Continuous)
    2. decided to go to bed (Past Simple)
  14. She’d been watching TV for hours until she decided to go to bed.
    Which action happened first?
    1. had been watching TV (Past Perfect Continuous)
    2. decided to go to bed (Past Simple)
  15. She’d been watching TV for hours until she decided to go to bed.
    What is the focus of “had been watching TV”?
    1. Duration
    2. Result
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