Mastering Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo
• Leerjaar 3,4

Mastering Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to differentiate between past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses and use them correctly in sentences.

Introduce the learning objective and explain why it is important to understand these tenses.

What do you already know about the difference between past perfect and past perfect continuous?

Past Perfect

Past perfect is used to describe a completed action before another past action. It is formed with had + past participle.

Explain the structure of past perfect and give examples. Encourage students to ask questions.

Past Perfect Examples

Example: When I arrived, the movie had already started. Example: She had eaten breakfast before she went to work.

Provide examples of past perfect and ask students to identify the completed action and the past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

Past perfect continuous is used to describe a longer, ongoing action that was interrupted by another past action. It is formed with had been + present participle.

Explain the structure of past perfect continuous and give examples. Encourage students to ask questions.

Past Perfect Continuous Examples

Example: I had been studying for hours before I finally understood the lesson. Example: They had been playing tennis for an hour when it started raining.

Provide examples of past perfect continuous and ask students to identify the ongoing action and the past action.

Signal Words for Past Perfect

Signal words for past perfect include already, before, by the time, just, never, and yet.

Explain the signal words for past perfect and provide examples.

Signal Words for Past Perfect Continuous

Signal words for past perfect continuous include for, since, all morning/day/week, and how long.

Explain the signal words for past perfect continuous and provide examples.

Difference between Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

The main difference between past perfect and past perfect continuous is that past perfect describes a completed action before another past action, while past perfect continuous describes an ongoing action interrupted by another past action.

Explain the difference between the two tenses and provide examples.

Practice Exercise 1

Rewrite the following sentences using past perfect: 

1. She finished her homework before she watched TV. 

2. He left the office after he had finished his work. 

3. They had dinner before they went to the movie.

Provide practice exercises for students to apply what they have learned about past perfect. Review the answers as a class.

Practice Exercise 2

Rewrite the following sentences using past perfect continuous: 1. The children played in the park before it got dark. 

2. She studied for the exam before she went to bed. 

3. They talked on the phone before they met in person.

Provide practice exercises for students to apply what they have learned about past perfect continuous. Review the answers as a class.

Interactive: Fill in the Blank

Interactive: Fill in the blank with the correct form of past perfect or past perfect continuous: 

When I arrived, she ___ already ___ (eat) breakfast.

Provide an interactive element for students to practice identifying the correct tense to use in a sentence.

Interactive: Matching

Interactive: Match the sentence to the correct tense: 

1. She had been cooking dinner for an hour. 

2. She had cooked dinner before he arrived. 

Provide an interactive element for students to match sentences to the correct tense.

Common Errors

Common errors include using past simple instead of past perfect or past perfect continuous, and incorrect use of signal words.

Explain common errors to avoid and provide examples.

Tips for Correct Usage

Tips for correct usage include understanding the difference between completed actions and ongoing actions, and using signal words correctly.

Provide tips for students to remember when using past perfect and past perfect continuous.

Fill in the Past Perfect:
When I walked in, the meeting ___already___ (start).

Fill in the Past Perfect:
After he ______ (pass) his exam, he trew a party.

Fill in the Past Perfect:
He was shocked because he ____ never ____ (see) anything like this.

When they _______ (finish) school, they _______ (go) to the mall.

1. had finished - went
2. finished - had gone

They ________ (show) me the pictures they ________ (take) during their holiday.

1. had shown - took
2. showed - had taken

The boy _______ (be) sorry for what he ______ (do).

1. had been - did
2. was - had done

I was angry when my mother sold my old toys. I __________ them for such a long time!

1. have had
2. had been having
3. had had

We were extremely tired at the end of our journey. By then, we __________ for more than 24 hours.

1. had been travelling
2. were travelling
3. have been travelling

I hope the bus comes soon. I ___________ for 30 minutes...

1. had been waiting
2. have been waiting
3. was waiting

At last the bus came. I ___________ for 30 minutes...

1. had been waiting
2. have been waiting
3. was waiting

How difficult do you find this topic?

too difficult; I don't get it

not difficult at all

a little challenging

none of these options

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.

I can now use the Past Perfect (together with the Past Simple).

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure yet..