past perfect countinous
 

hi everyone,
I will be teaching past perfect continuous this week. Is there anyone with a good idea of what context i could start with? What activities i could use?

regards
z

Re: past perfect countinous
 

I usually use the same flashcards that i have for the present perfect continuous, but put them into a past context. For example, I show a picture of a man who is hot and breathing heavily. Instead of asking 'What has he been doing?' in the present perfect continuous I say 'This is John yesterday evening. What had he been doing?' or 'Why was John so hot yesterday evening?' to elicit the response 'Because he had been running, playing football, working out etc'

Re: past perfect countinous
 

Wow, ... 'What had he been doing?' seems such an unnatural question to ask...

...but I agree to compare it to the present perfect continuous tense. Anyway, whoever invented this tense has a lot to answer for!!

Re: past perfect countinous
 

Here's a good article on the past perfect progressive. A bit long, but the best information I've found on the subject.

English Teaching Forum Online – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs