B2 Writing – Past Perfect Simple and Continuous

Grammar Tips

Past Perfect Simple is used to show that one action was completed before another action in the past.

Form: had + past participle
Example: The crew had secured the deck before the storm started.

Past Perfect Continuous is used to show the duration of an activity that was happening before another past event.

Form: had been + verb (-ing)
Example: The engineers had been repairing the engine for hours before it failed.

Click Check your answers before moving to the next slide.

Grammar Architecture

Drag the correct formula and usage into the corresponding boxes.

Past Perfect Simple:

Past Perfect Continuous:

had + past participle Action completed before another past action had been + verb (-ing) Duration before another past action

Incident Report (Simple)

Complete the sentences based on these prompts using Past Perfect Simple.

Operation Duration (Continuous)

Complete the sentences based on these prompts using Past Perfect Continuous.

Detailed Naval Log

Write a formal report (120–150 words). Focus on proper English flow. Use at least 2 Past Perfect Simple and 2 Past Perfect Continuous sentences.

Incident Prompt: Yesterday at 14:00 hours, the SS Valiant lost all engine power while navigating a narrow strait. The technical team eventually found a blockage in the fuel lines.

Invent the events leading up to this. What had the crew been doing? What had already happened?

Final Proficiency Check

Complete the sentences. You have 3 attempts before the correct answers are revealed.

Overall Performance

Score

0%

Activities completed

0/5