'd been mowing the lawn. I was tired
I'd mown the lawn. It looked nice.
The past perfect continuous (had been mowing) focuses on the action going on. The past perfect (had mown) focuses on the result of the action.
When we say how long, we normally use the continuous form. When we say how many, we do not use the continuous.
The volunteers brought in their collecting boxes at lunch time yesterday. They had been collecting money all morning. They had collected hundreds of pounds.
2 Compare the past continuous and past perfect continuous.
When I saw Debbie, she was playing golf. (I saw her in the middle of the game.)
When I saw Debbie, she'd been playing golf. (I saw her after the game.)
Present continuous • 64 In the middle of an action
I'm watching this comedy.
A temporary routine
I'm workinglate this week.
Present perfect • 65 An action in the period up to the present
I've written the letter.
A series of actions up to the present
I've played basketball a few times.
A state up to the present
I've been here for a week.
Past continuous • 66
An action over a period of past time
It was raining at the time.
Present perfect continuous • 67
An action over a period up to the present
It has been raining all day.
Past perfect continuous• 68 An action over a period up to a past time
It had been raining for hours.
