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Example of past perfect continuous:

The house had been being painted for over a month before they began to decorate the interior.

Wow, Tina, I hope you use this to make students aware of how many incorrect examples of the past perfect are out there.

"There is at least one had error on any grammar website or in any grammar textbook you can name."

Thanks, Tina.

.brhad.sat.27feb10.

This reminds me of a German lady who learned English as a second language from a person who learned English as a second language, and who professes to show proper English usage on her website. She gets downright snarly when any of her many errors are revealed. She would accept "had been being painted" without a murmur.

And, needless to say, the house must be the object of the action but hey, let's not quibble. As long as the sentence is messed up, let's let it be really messed up. Sorry, I can't turn off the italics. That's what blue type does to my computer.