The Past Perfect Progressive

Ex. 280. Read and translate the sentences. Comment on the use of the Past Perfect Progressive

1. Later that afternoon,Derek put down the script he had been reading. 2. That evening Diana called me from London, and I told her what I'd been doing all day. 3. Emma, who had been listening attentively, knew with absolute certainty that he was speaking the truth. 4. Ketti looked at Sue and knew that she had been weeping. 5. Catherine, who had been looking at her mother intently, now spoke in a concerned voice. 6. It just happened so that she knew what her son had been doing. He had been courting her personal clients in an effort to take them over himself. But it wouldn't work as long as she was head of the company. 7. Andrew, who is English, had been living in New York for seven years when we met. We had been seeing each other for only two months when he asked me to marry him. 8. I had been hearing and reading about the Vatican for so long that I was genuinely keen to see it.

 

Ex. 281. Use the right form of the verbs in brackets

When Nikita finally reached the club, his friends Olga and Oleg were already waiting for him near the entrance. Nikita said he was sorry he was late and asked how long they (be) there. They explained that they (wait) for about thirty minutes and in their turn asked him where he (be). Nikita said he (finish) a pot in his pottery class, and it (take) him a really long time to clean up. Olga was greatly surprised and asked how long he (take) a class in pottery, as he never (mention) it before. Nikita said he (register) some time before as he needed a breake from his classes. He never (try) to do anything creative before and he (have) a really good time. He admitted that since he (start) it, he (spend) all his free time in workshop. He also (run) around to antique stores, though he not (go out) much with his friends recently. His friends said they were sure it was just the beginning and soon things (get back) to normal.

Ex. 282. Translate into English.

1. Она подошла к двери, чтобы поприветствовать сво­его адвоката, которого она ждала (to expect). 2. На­конец-то он высказал идею, которую прокручивал в голове в последнее время. 3. Молодой человек под­нялся со ступенек, на которых сидел, и вошел в дом. 4. Художник внимательно рассматривал картину, ко­торую рисовал уже несколько недель. 5. Он беспо­коился о своей жене. В последнее время она посе­щала (to see) психоаналитика, пытаясь выяснить причину своей депрессии. 6. Все уважали президента фирмы. Он управлял (to run) этой фирмой много лет. 7. Наконец наступил момент, которого он ждал всю жизнь. 8. Она повесила в шкаф платье, которое толь­ко что примеряла. Оно было слишком ярким. 9. В доме замечательно пахло. Бабушка с утра варила клубничное варенье. 10. Рабочие попросили нас ни к чему не прислоняться, так как они только что кра­сили стены. 11. Когда я вошел в комнату, все за­молчали, и я понял, что они говорили обо мне. 12. Наш шеф вошел в офис и пожаловался, что со­бака сжевала доклад, над которым он работал все выходные.

 

Ex. 283. Explain the difference between the following pairs of sentences.

1. a. When I last went to London, they had renovated the National Portrait Gallery.

b. When I last went to London, they had been renovating the National Portrait Gallery.

2. a. Although she tried to hide her face, we could see that Vicky was crying.

b. Although she tried to apply some make-up, we could see that Vicky had been crying.

3. a. When they got to their dacha, they discovered that water was leaking through the roof, b. When they got to their dacha, they discovered that water had been leaking through the roof. There were pools on the floor. 4. a. By the smell in the room and his guilty expression

I could tell that Stephen had been smoking, b. Yesterday he was caught red-handed. When I came in, he was smoking. 5. a. When Denny joined in the conversation, they were

discussing the latest events in the Balkans, b. Everybody looked unhappy. They had been discussing the Concorde's crash.