Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His mother kept a shop; he had been sponging on her for the money he had scattered broadcast.
From A Duel by Richard Marsh
And Esther had been sponging and cleaning at it all the morning, and had left directions that it was to be taken to the Barracks in the afternoon.
From Seven Little Australians by Ethel Sybil Turner
