moan
had been moaning
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past perfect progressiveof moan.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At this juncture Miss Cook, who had been moaning and moving about a good deal behind the black shawl, suddenly exclaimed, "I can't stand this any longer," and walked out into the room.
From There is no Death by Florence Marryatt
He had been moaning and sentimentalizing but then suddenly he showed me his fangs.
From The Arrow of Gold A Story Between Two Notes by Joseph Conrad
No sooner had the sexton begun to dig the grave than the wind, which had been moaning and wailing round the stones and wooden crosses, began to howl with a sinister sound.
From The Pobratim A Slav Novel by P. Jones
He understood though that we would not be troubling McNab, when I told him what had happened, and was quiet—though he had been moaning and crying all day.
From The Pioneers by Katharine Susannah Prichard
Indeed, that morning all comparisons seemed to take on a tinge of melancholy; the reason being that throughout the previous evening there had been moaning in my soul a mournful dirge on the future life.
From Through Russia by C. J. Hogarth
