I need help for this point : I don't understand when I have to use these past forms :

- have + verb past participle (present perfect)
- have + been + verb-ing (present perfect continu)
- had + verb past participle (past perfect)
- had + been + verb-ing (past perfect continu)

Thank you ~

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Hey! Here’s a few examples if it helps,

Has done (present perfect) : “he has finished his homework” this is used to express a past event that has present consequences

Has been doing (present perfect continuous): “She has been looking for the dress since morning” This shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time

Had done (past perfect/ pluperfect) : “He was very tired because he hadn't slept well” this is used to make it clear that one event happened before another in the past. It does not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one happened first.


Other examples of this are:

“She had met him before the party”

“I had written the email before he apologised”

Had been doing (past perfect continuous) : “I had been working at the restaurant for two years when I got the promotion.” This shows that an action that started in the past continued up until another time in the past.
When, for, since, and before are words that you might see alongside the past perfect continuous tense.

Other examples of this are:

“He had been drinking milk out the carton when she walked into the kitchen”

“Martha had been walking three miles a day before she broke her leg”

Thanks!