Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Uses of Future Perfect Continuous Tense

It is used for actions which will be in progress over a period of time (i.e. for a long time) that will end in the future (i.e. it expresses completion + continuation of action).

This tense is not used that commonly.

By next August, we shall have been working here for three years.

In sentences with the future perfect continuous, we usually mention both the particular point in the future (on Tuesday…, next month… etc.) and the period of time until this point (…for a month, …for 2 years).

We generally do not use the future perfect continuous tense with state verbs:

By next week I will have been knowing Julia for six years. (incorrect; know – state verb)
By next week I will have known Julia for six years. (correct)

Different Sentence structures of the Future Continuous Tense

Structure of Declarative sentences

Affirmative Declarative Sentences

Pattern: Subject + shall/will + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time

Aanya will have been working on her project for 3 hours by dinner time.
They will have been working on their project for 3 hours by dinner time.

Negative Declarative Sentences

Pattern: Subject + shall/will + not + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time

Aanya will not have been working on her project for 3 hours by dinner time.
They will not have been working on their project for 3 hours by dinner time.

We can write shall not and will not as shan’t and won’t too respectively.

Structure of Interrogative sentences

Affirmative Interrogative Sentences

Pattern 1: Shall/Will + Subject + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time?

Will Aanya have been working on her project for 3 hours by dinner time?

Pattern 2: Wh. family + will/shall + Subject + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time?

When will Aanya have been working on her project for 3 hours by dinner time?

Negative Interrogative Sentences

Pattern 1: Shall/Will + Subject + not + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time?

Will Aanya not have been working on her project for 3 hours by dinner time?

Pattern 2: Shan’t/Won’t + Subject + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time?

Won’t Aanya have been working on her project for 3 hours by dinner time?

Pattern 3: Wh. family + will/shall + Subject + not + have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/from + time?

When will Aanya not have been working on her project for 3 hours?

Share on:

Last updated on Oct 5, 2021