Past perfect continuous

El past perfect continuous describe una acción que llevaba un tiempo ocurriendo antes de un momento del pasado. Forma: had been + -ing (llevaba + gerundio).

Cuándo se usa

• Duración hasta un momento pasado, con for / since / how long: We had been driving for six hours when the car broke down.
• Resultados visibles de una actividad anterior: His eyes were red. He had been crying.
• Comparación: I had read the book (terminado) / I had been reading (actividad, quizá sin terminar).

Ejemplos

• It had been raining, so the streets were wet.Había estado lloviendo, así que las calles estaban mojadas.
• She had been working there for ten years before she left.Llevaba diez años trabajando allí cuando se fue.
• I was tired because I had been studying all night.Estaba cansado porque había estado estudiando toda la noche.
• How long had you been waiting when the bus came?¿Cuánto llevabas esperando cuando llegó el autobús?
• He was out of breath because he had been running.Estaba sin aliento porque había estado corriendo.

Errores comunes

• ✗ I waited for an hour when he came.✓ I had been waiting for an hour when he came.La duración anterior a un momento pasado necesita el past perfect continuous.
• ✗ I had been waiting since two hours.✓ I had been waiting for two hours.Con un periodo de tiempo se usa for y no since.
• ✗ He had been working there since ten years.✓ He had been working there for ten years.Con un periodo de tiempo se usa for y no since, aunque el español diga desde hace diez años.
• ✗ How long you had been waiting?✓ How long had you been waiting?En una pregunta el auxiliar had va antes del sujeto.
• ✗ I had been wait for an hour.✓ I had been waiting for an hour.Tras had been el verbo lleva la terminación -ing, de modo que se dice waiting.