Past perfect vs past

continuous

 The

past perfect continuous tense and

the present perfect continuous tense
He was my tennis partner. We had been
playing together for seven years.
He is my tennis partner. We have been
playing together for seven years.
It was midnight and you had been
watching television for four hours.
It is midnight and you have been watching
television for four hours.

 Why

was he so angry? What had

they been doing to him?
Why is he so angry? What have they
been doing to him?
She had been shopping for eight
hours for a new dress, but couldn't
find one she liked.
She has been shopping for eight
hours for a new dress, but can't find
one she likes.

 The

past perfect continuous tense

and the past perfect tense
a) I had been looking everywhere for
you.
b) I had looked everywhere for you.
c) Sandy was very confident because she
had been rehearsing hard for the play.
d) Sandy was very confident because she
had rehearsed hard for the play.

 The

past perfect continuous tense

and the past continuous tense
When I phoned, they all had been
saying their prayers. (I phoned after
the prayers.)
When I phoned, they all were saying
their prayers. (I phoned during the
prayers.)

 We

had been having our dinner

when he arrived. (He arrived after
dinner.)
We were having our dinner when
he arrived. (He arrived during
dinner.)