Present perfect continuous tense

If you’ve been wondering about the difference between “had been,” “has been,” and “have been,” this guide simplifies their usage with clear explanations and examples. You can also get a mini quiz and exercise PDF at the end of this article.

Here’s a quick overview:

• “Had been” refers to something that started and ended in the past.

  It is used in the past perfect tense.

• “Have been” and “has been” describe something that began in the past and continues up to the present, or has just been completed. These are used in the present perfect tense.

Let’s break this down further.

1.

“Had Been” Past Perfect Tense

The phrase “had been” is used to describe actions that:

• Started in the past,
• Continued for some time, and
• Ended before another specific past event.

Key Points:

• Used in the past perfect tense.
• Applies to all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).

Examples:

→ They had been practicing for hours before the game started.(The practice happened and ended before the game began.)

→ The children had been excited about the trip until it was canceled.(The excit

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