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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Difference between Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

Hello

can anybody help me in the following case? In the sentence "Ken had played well for half an hour and had won three first games" why should we use the Past Perfect for "play" as it is suggested in the key answers. I would rather use the Present Perfect Continuous here.
  

Top answer

There are several possibilities here, but a present perfect continuous form is not one of them. The fact of winning a certain number of games shows a completeness that is not compatible with the continuous. Ken played well for half an hour and won his first three games.

— Fivejedjon

  • There are several possibilities here, but a present perfect continuous form is not one of them.
  • The fact of winning a certain number of games shows a completeness that is not compatible with the continuous.
  • Ken played well for half an hour and won his first three games.
  • Ken had played well for half an hour and (had) won his first three games.
  • Ken played well for the first half an hour.
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2 Answers
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There are several possibilities here, but a present perfect continuous form is not one of them. The fact of winning a certain number of games shows a completeness that is not compatible with the continuous.

Ken played well for half an hour and won his first three games.
Ken had played well for half an hour and (had) won his first three games.
Ken played well for t
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AnonymousKen had played well ...
Or, had been playing well, as you suggest. Both of them seem acceptable to me.

CJ
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