Past Perfect Continuous: Evidence and Explanations (C1)

Her hair was wet when she opened the door — she in the pool. (swim)

His face was red and damp when he sat down — he in the gym for nearly two hours. (train)

There was sawdust all over the workshop floor — Andreas a new bookshelf since dawn. (build)

The kitchen smelled wonderful when I came home — Mum all afternoon. (bake)

The children's clothes were filthy by teatime — they in the garden since lunchtime. (play)

Marie's eyes were red and puffy at the funeral — she since the news first broke. (cry)

When he tried to speak after the match, his voice was completely hoarse — he at the rugby for two hours. (shout)

The detective noticed that the suspect's hands were trembling — he a heavy bag for some time. (carry)

When we found Tom asleep at his desk, the empty coffee cups around him suggested he on the report all night. (work)

The dog's fur was matted with leaves and twigs when he limped back home — he in the woods for hours. (run)

There was a strong smell of bleach in the kitchen when I arrived — someone the floor obsessively for ages. (clean)

I could see from the muddy boots in the hall that my brother along the river path again. (walk)

Anna's fingertips were stained dark blue by lunchtime — she ink samples in the lab all morning. (test)

The whiteboard was covered in arrows and crossings-out — the team for hours and clearly hadn't reached agreement. (brainstorm)

His jacket smelled strongly of woodsmoke when he walked in — he leaves in the garden for most of the afternoon. (burn)