One of the most basic parts of English grammar is tenses. Tenses give us descriptions of time for verbs, which indicate action. Therefore, tenses determine what time actions take place. In order to speak English fluently, we need to learn the tenses. This guide is about the future perfect continuous tense and is prepared to help you learn all about it.
What Is Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous tense describes an ongoing action that will continue until a specific point in the future. It indicates that the action started in the past, is currently happening, and will still be happening at a certain time in the future. For example, “She will have been working here for 5 years next month.” is a sentence in future perfect continuous tense. From this sentence, we understand that the subject has started working there in the past, is still working there and will continue to do so. She will definitely work there until next month, which will be her fifth year working. The action (working) will continue to happen for sure until next month. We don’t know what will happen after that as the future perfect continuous tense does not include that part.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense Grammar Rules
The future perfect continuous tense describes actions that have started in the past, are currently happening, and will still be happening at a certain time in the future. This tense’s usage is limited as it indicates a very specific time. The formula is subject + will + have + been + v-ing. The following are the grammar rules for Future Perfect Continuous Tense:
“Will” is used to indicate the future tense.
“Have” is the auxiliary verb that is used to form the future perfect tense.
“Been” is the past participle of the auxiliary verb “be,” and it is used to form the continuous aspect of the future perfect tense.
The present participle verb (v+ing) is used to indicate the ongoing action.
The specified point in the future is often indicated by a time expression or by using the preposition “by” followed by a specific time or event.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense Grammar Table
The formula for Future Perfect Continuous Tense is subject + will + have + been + v-ing. Here is a table and 5 Future Perfect Continuous Tense sentence examples to help you better understand.
| Subject | Modal Verb | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | will | have | been | v+ing |
| You | ||||
| He | ||||
| She | ||||
| It | ||||
| We | ||||
| They |
They will have been studying math regularly for six months by the end of the year.
By the time they arrive, we will have been waiting for over an hour.
In a few years, she will have been living abroad for a decade.
By next month, they will have been saving up for their dream vacation for three months.
How To Construct Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense
To construct sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense, we use the formula of subject + will + have + been + v-ing. This formula changes according to the type of sentence (affirmative, negative, interrogative) we want to form. Let’s take a look at how to construct these different types of sentences.
Affirmative Sentences: The formula is subject + will + have + been + v-ing.
She will have been working on her homework for three hours.
Negative Sentences: Negative adverb “not” is added after the modal verb “will”. The formula is subject + will + not + have + been + v-ing.
They will not have been studying English for two months.
Interrogative Sentences: Modal adverb “will” is put before the subject. The formula is will + subject + have + been + v-ing.
Will you have been working in that company for two years this month?
NOTE: We can use the abbreviation “won’t” instead of “will not” in both negative and interrogative sentences for simplicity and informality.
Affirmative Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense
To construct affirmative sentences, we implement the formula we learned above. The formula is subject + will + have + been + v-ing. Here is a table and some examples to help you better understand.
| Subject | Modal Verb | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | will | have | been | v+ing |
| You | ||||
| He | ||||
| She | ||||
| It | ||||
| We | ||||
| They |
By next week, they will have been traveling around the country for ten months.
She will have been practicing singing for three years by the time of the concert.
By the time you arrive, we will have been waiting for half an hour.
They will have been studying Korean for eight months by the end of the new semester.
Negative Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense
To form a negative sentence in Future Perfect Continuous tense, we add the negative adverb “not” to the sentence. The formula we learned in the affirmative sentences changes as follows: subject + will + not + have + been + v-ing. Here is a table and 5 examples to help you better understand.
| Subject | Modal Verb | Negative Adverb | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | will | not | have | been | v+ing |
| You | |||||
| He | |||||
| She | |||||
| It | |||||
| We | |||||
| They |
They will not have been living in that building for a decade.
He won’t have been learning the flute for two years by the time of the recital.
By the time he arrives, I will not have been waiting for more than 30 minutes.
They will not have been going over the same paper for an hour by 14:00.
Interrogative Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense
To form an interrogative sentence in Future Perfect Continuous Tense, we use the formula will + subject + have + been + v-ing or will + subject+ not + have + been + v-ing. Here are some tables and 10 Future Perfect Continuous Tense sentence examples to help you better understand.
For positive sentences:
| Modal Verb | Subject | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will | I | have | been | v+ing |
| You | ||||
| He | ||||
| She | ||||
| It | ||||
| We | ||||
| They |
Will they have been decorating the venue for a long time by the time of the party?
Will she have been working on her paper for 3 weeks?
Will we have been waiting in line for four hours by the time the concert starts?
By next month, will they have been working in the same company for two years?
For negative questions:
| Modal Verb | Subject | Negative Adverb | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will | I | not | have | been | v+ing |
| You | |||||
| He | |||||
| She | |||||
| It | |||||
| We | |||||
| They |
By the time of the party, won’t they have been avoiding each other for the entire day?
Will she not have been working on the project for 5 days by the end of the week?
Will we not have been standing up for more than two hours by the time the concert ends?
By next month, won’t they have been living in their current apartment for 4 months?
Interrogative Sentences with Wh- Questions in Future Perfect Continuous
In order to ask more specific questions, we can add question words to our interrogative sentences. These words include how long, by when, what, where, why etc. The formula is question word + will + subject + have + been + v-ing or will + subject+ not + have + been + v-ing. Here is a table and 5 sentence examples to help you better understand.
Positive sentences:
| Question Word | Modal Verb | Subject | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How long | Will | I | have | been | v+ing |
| Who | You | ||||
| When | He | ||||
| What | She | ||||
| Where | It | ||||
| Why | We | ||||
| They |
How long will you have been reading that book by tomorrow?
By when will they have been traveling around the country for a year?
What will you have been doing all day by the time we leave?
Where will they have been working on the project for two months tomorrow?
Why will she have been waiting at the train station for that long?
Negative sentences:
| Question Word | Modal Verb | Subject | Negative Adverb | Auxiliary Verb (have) | Auxiliary Verb (be) | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How long | Will | I | not | have | been | v+ing |
| Who | You | |||||
| When | He | |||||
| What | She | |||||
| Where | It | |||||
| Why | We | |||||
| They |
How long will you not have been reading that book by tomorrow?
By when will they not have been traveling for 3 months?
What won’t you have been doing all day by the time we leave?
Where will they not have been working on the project for two months?
Why will she not have been baking a cake for an hour?
Short Answer Questions in Future Perfect Continuous
To give short answers to questions in Future Perfect Continuous, we use the formula of Yes/No + subject + will/will not. Here are some tables and examples to help you better understand.
Positive answers:
| Confirmation Word | Subject | Modal Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, | I | will |
| You | ||
| He | ||
| She | ||
| It | ||
| We | ||
| They |
Will you have been studying for the exam for two hours by this evening? Yes, I will.
Will she not have been working on the project for 5 days by the end of the week? Yes, she will.
Negative Answers:
| Denial Word | Subject | Modal Verb |
|---|---|---|
| No, | I | will not (won’t) |
| You | ||
| He | ||
| She | ||
| It | ||
| We | ||
| They |
By next month, will they have been working in the same company for two years? No, they will not.
Will we have been waiting in line for four hours by the time the concert starts? No, we won’t.
Temporal Adverbs in Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Temporal adverbs provide additional information regarding exactly what time the action took place or for how long. Commonly used temporal adverbs in Future Perfect Continuous are by…/ for…/ all week-day- month etc./ until. Here are some examples to help you better understand.
I will have been working on this project for 4 hours by tomorrow.
He will have been taking notes for three hours by the time the next class starts.
By the evening, I will have been working all day on this assignment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Future Perfect Continuous Tense
What is the Difference Between Future Perfect Continuous Tense and Present Continuous Tense?
The Future Perfect Continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past, is continuing in the present, and will still be happening in the future. The Present Continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action happening at the present moment or around the time of speaking.
What is the Difference Between Future Perfect Continuous Tense and Simple Past Tense?
The Future Perfect Continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past, continues in the present, and will still be happening in the future while the Simple Past tense is used to describe a completed action that occurred and ended entirely in the past.
What is the Difference Between Future Perfect Continuous Tense and Past Perfect Tense?
The Future Perfect Continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that starts in the past, continues in the present, and will still be happening in the future while Past Perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened and was completed before another past event.
What is Future Perfect Continuous formula?
To construct sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense, we use the formula of subject + will + have + been + v-ing.
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