阅读本篇英文时态解说之前，版主建议先阅读‘英文时态概论’与‘英文文法基本概念：动词的基本型态’，先掌握基本概念，然后再研究翻译细节。

◎ 过去完成式的进行版本

At that time we had been living in Taipei for ten years.
(我们那时已经在台北住了十年了。) – situation which had continued up to the past moment that we are talking about

I had been waiting for more than one hour when the bus finally arrived.
(当巴士终于来的时候，我那时已经足足等了一个多小时。)

When I found Mary, I could see that she had been crying.  (Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, p 421 )
(我找到玛莉时，我看得出来她刚哭过。) – action which stoped shortly before the past moment that we are talking about

◎ 表示过去的持续行为 (藉此表达“原因和理由”)

John was tired because he had been jogging.
(约翰当时在慢跑，因此觉得累。)
//(解说) 说这句话时强调“约翰当时一直慢跑，所以觉得累”，约翰有可能还在慢跑，也有可能刚刚结束慢跑。
// 如果要强调“约翰当时还在慢跑，所以觉得累”，可用以下的例句：
John was tired because he was jogging.

Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
(Sam 那时变胖了，因为他都 (一直) 饮食过量。)

Kathy failed the final examine because she had not been attending class.
(Kathy 那时 (一直) 都没上课，所以期末考不及格。)

I could smell that he had been smoking.
(我当时闻得出来他刚抽过菸。)

◎  过去完成式 vs 过去完成进行式的翻译

过去完成式：强调“完成”
过去完成进行式：强调“行为或动作的持续”

My leg was stiff because I had been standing still for a long time.  (Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, p 421 )
(我当时站着不动很久，腿都僵硬了。) – 强调“持续”
The lived in a castle which had stood on a hill for 200 years.
(他们居住在山丘上一座有两百年歷史的城堡。) – 强调“永久”

I had been reading science fiction for years when I bought my first computer.
(我那时买第一部电脑时，已经读了十年科幻小说。) – 强调“持续”
I had read all my magazines, and was beginning to get bored. (Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, p 421 )
(我当时已经读完我的全部杂誌，开始感到无聊。) – 强调“完成”

◎  持续性动词不可用于过去完成进行式
例如：know / belong

The car had been belonging to my elder brother for years before I bought it. (错误)
The car had belonged to my elder brother for years before I bought it. (正确)

Jason hadn’t known Kathy for very long when he propsed to her.
(Jason hadn’t been knowing Kathy…)