Past Perfect Simple & Continuous

Past Perfect Simple & Continuous

The Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous are often among the most challenging tenses for English learners. They can be difficult to master, which is why this article takes a closer look at how they work. We’ll explain when and how to use each tense, highlight the key differences between them, and provide plenty of exercises to help you practice with confidence in our next article.

We’ve already covered the basics in our Past Forms overview article, but these two tenses deserve a more detailed explanation of their own. So, let’s dive in.

“Award-winning film star Grace Kelly had been acting on stage and in television for 3 years before she made her first Hollywood movie. By the age of 26, she had given up her film career to live as a royal princess in Monaco.”
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For A Long Time vs. In A Long Time

For A Long Time vs. In A Long Time

Consider these two sentences:

  1. I haven’t done this for a long time.
  2. I haven’t done this in a long time.

Do they mean exactly the same thing, or is there a difference in meaning?

Keep reading to find out. By the end of this article, you’ll understand when in a long time is more appropriate than for a long time, and vice versa.

As always, we’ve included exercises, so be sure to test your understanding when you’re ready.

“I haven’t played tennis in a long time, even though I played it for a long time when I was younger…”
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Verb Patterns: Remember, Forget, Regret, Go On, Try, Need & Stop

Verb Patterns: Remember, Forget, Regret, Go On, Try, Need & Stop

In this post, we’ll look at verbs that can be followed by either the to-infinitive or a gerund (the -ing verb form). The meaning of these verbs changes depending on which form follows them. After reading the post, try the exercise to practice using these verbs.

I remembered to lock the door, but I don’t remember locking it.
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