Future Perfect Continuous Tense

What is Tense?

Before we go into the future perfect continuous tense, let us start with the basics. Let’s start with the meaning of tense.

Tense in English grammar refers to the time an action will take place. It may be in the past, in the present, or the future. 

Tense helps us to contexualise better what we are saying. For example, if I want to read my books tomorrow, I will say, “I will read books tomorrow”. Anyone that has heard me will know that I am reading now but I will read in the future. 

It works the same way for past tense too. For example, if I want to tell a friend how I spent my day, I will say I did this or I did that today. The word did is in the past tense. My friend will understand that all the things I am mentioning have already taken place.

Please remember that tenses can only work on verbs. Verbs are a part of speech that describe our actions or state of being. For example,

•    I am running.

Running is an action. This makes ‘run’ a verb. 

•    I am reading. 

Reading is an action. This makes ‘read’ a verb.

•    They are teachers.

In this sentence, “are’ is the verb. It is telling you more about the people who are teachers. It is a ” being” verb. 

There are many tenses in the English language. The most common ones are the present tense, the past tense, and the future tense. These are the ones that we use every day while speaking. 

What Is The Future Perfect Continuous Tense?

Now that we understand what tense is, let us look at the future perfect continuous tense.

Future perfect continuous tense is the tense that tells us of an action that will start and will continue till some point in the future. 

That means that the future perfect continuous tense starts in and ends in the future. Let’s move to the rules.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Rules

What are future perfect continuous tense rules? The rules are simple:

• Verbs used in future perfect continuous tense should be action verbs. Future perfect continuous tense describes continuous actions. You can not use non-continuous verbs like to be, to know, and to seem.
• The future perfect continuous tense can be formed using the phrase will have been or be going to have been.
• The verb that you use should be in the present continuous. This means that the verb should end in -ing. For example, the verb cook becomes cooking.
• Future perfect continuous tense can be formed by adding duration. Duration is the basis of time that you add to give the sentence meaning. The format is ‘for …. by’ For example, for two hours by the time he arrives

Now let’s look at some examples so that we will understand the rules better. 

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Examples

Let’s explain this by giving future perfect continuous tense examples. It will make it easier to understand:

Let’s make a sentence. We will need to follow the format

Subject + will have been + verb-ing +duration

Here is an example:

I will have been eating rice for an hour by the time he arrives.

‘I’ is the subject

‘Eating’ is the verb

‘For an hour when he arrives’ is the duration

Here is another example:

I will have been reading for thirty minutes when the bell rings.

All the examples above are positive sentences here are some examples in positive, negative, and interrogative sentences. 

Positive sentences

She will have been cooking.

They will have been journeying by bus.

They will have been reading for an hour.

Sean will have been eating by then.

Negative sentences

She will not have been cooking.

They will not have been journeying by bus.

They will not have been reading for an hour.

Sean is will not have been eating by then.

Interrogative sentences

Will she have been cooking?

Will they have been journeying by bus?

Will they have been reading for an hour?

Will Sean have been eating by then?

Future Continuous Perfect Tense Worksheet

Here is a future perfect continuous tense worksheet. Now that we know all about the future perfect continuous tense, let us test out your knowledge. Try to answer the questions on the worksheet below. Remember to follow the rules above.

Section I

Change these sentences to future continuous perfect tense.

Each of these sentences is in different tenses. Now change them to future perfect continuous tense. Remember to add the duration.

1. They are eating
2. The choir is singing
3. My parents are talking
4. Everyone is standing

Section II

Change the verbs in brackets to the present continuous so that the sentence will be in the future continuous perfect tense

1. He will have been (play) the piano for a decade when he is thirty
2. I will have been (study) for a year by next week

The Governor will have been (deliberate) on a plan for the state for two weeks by tomorrow

Conclusion

Future perfect continuous tense indicates an action that will start in future and will end at a certain time in the future. It can be formed using ‘will have been’. You can add a duration at the end of your sentence to give it more meaning. You can use future perfect continuous tense in positive sentences, negative and interrogative sentences.