در زیر گروهی از کاربردهای زمان گذشته کامل استمراری به همراه ساختار و مثال های آن آمده است.

برای بیان کاری که در زمان گذشته قبل از عملی دیگر در جریان بوده است.

I had been working for three hours when you arrived.
Susan had been thinking about the idea for a while when he made the suggestion.

برای بیان کاری که در گذشته و قبل از نقطه ای خاص در زمان در حال انجام بوده است

I had been playing tennis for two hours when I sprained my ankle.
Jane had been studying for two years when he was drafted into the army.

کاری که در جهت آماده شدن برای کاری دیگر در جریان بوده است.

I had been practicing for three days and was ready for the concert.
Tom had been studying hard and felt good about the test he was about to take.

در شرطی نوع سوم برای بیان شرایط تصور شده و تخیلی مورد استفاده قرار می گیرد.

If I had been working on that project, we would have been successful.
She would have been ready for the test if she had been preparing ست.diligently.

اصطلاحات زمانی رایج برای استفاده در زمان گذشته کامل استمراری

before, when

ساختار

مثبت

Subject + had + been + verb + ing

I, You, He, She, We, They had been working for two hours when she telephoned.
 

منفی

Subject + had + not (hadn't) + been + verb + ing

I, You, He, She, We, They hadn't been paying attention for long when he asked the question.
 

سؤال

Question word (often 'How long') + had + been + subject + verb + ing

How long -> had he, she, you, we, they been working before he arrived?