Untuk menunjukan aksi yang telah berlangsung di masa lalu dan terputus oleh kejadian lain di masa laluÂ
- He had been studying for hours when his friends arrived ( dia sudah belajar selama berjam-jam ketika teman-temannya tiba )
 - They had been playing for two hours before it started raining ( mereka sudah bermain selama dua jam sebelum hujan mulai turun)
 Untuk menunjukan durasi atau lamanya suatu aksi yang terjadi di masa laluÂ
- They had been working on the project for weeks before it was completed ( mereka sudah mengerjakan proyek itu selama berbulan-bulan sebelum proyek itu selesai.Â
Kalimat negatif :
 - I had not been sleeping when you called me ( saya tidak sedang tidur ketika kamu menelepon saya )
 - She had not been feeling well for a few days before she went to the doctor ( dia tidak merasa sehat selama beberapa hari seblum dai pergi ke dokter)
 Kalimat tanyaÂ
- Had they been palying football when it started to rain ? yes , they had been .... dst ikutin kalimatnya ( apakah mereka sedang bermain sepak bola ketika hujan mulai turun?Â
- Had you been waiting long before the bus arrived ( apakah akmu sudah menunggu lama sebelum bus tiba)