過去完成進行時

表示一個動作從過去某時開始，一直延續到另一個過去時刻，到那個時刻，該動作可能剛剛終止，也有可能還在繼續。

形式

had been + V-ing形式

用法

1.表示過去某一時間之前一直進行的動作。

I had been looking for it for days before I found it. 這東西我找了好多天才找著的。

They had only been waiting for the bus a few moments when it came. 他們只等了一會兒車就來了。

2.表示反復的動作。

He had been mentioning your name to me. 他過去多次向我提到過你的名字。

You had been giving me everything. 你對我真是有求必應。

3.過去完成進行時還常用于間接引語中

The doctor asked what he had been eating. 醫生問他吃了什么。

I asked where they had been staying all those days. 我問他們那些天是呆在哪兒的。

4.過去完成進行時之后也可接具有“突然”之意的when分句。

I had only been reading a few minutes when he came in. 我剛看了幾分鐘他就進來了。

I had been sleeping when my friend telephone me. 我正在睡覺時，我的朋友給我打電話。

特別含義

1.尚未完成：He had been writing the novel.(He had not finished it yet.)

2.企圖：He had been studying the meaning of this proverb.(He was trying to study it.)

3.未得結果：We had been studying what our enemy had said.(But we were not able to understand it.)

4.最近情況：He had been quarrelling with his wife.(lately)

5.反復動作：He had been asking me the same question.(Many times)

6.情緒：What had he been doing?(不耐煩)