Past Perfect Continuous vs. Past Continuous

An inexperienced ESL student might say:

  • She was studying for 45 minutes when I interrupted her.
  • She had been studying when I interrupted her.

    • Both of these sentences are incorrect. The first sentence requires the Past Perfect Continuous because the action of studying began one time earlier. The other sentence requires the Past Continuous because "studying" is just an interrupted action in progress.

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