The Past Perfect Continuous

I had been going

Had been + gerund (v.ing)

We use the past simple to talk about an action in the past. For example: I went out.

If we want to talk about an action before another action in the past, we use the past perfect simple.

For example: I had called her before I went out.

Past perfect Past simple

If we want to emphasise the duration of an action in the past, we use the past perfect continuous.

For example: I had been trying to call her for hours before she finally answered.

Past perfect continuous Past simple