Future Perfect Continuous (Future Perfect Progressive)
The Future Perfect Continuous tense describes actions that will have been in progress for a period of time before a specific point in the future. It emphasises the duration of the activity up to that future moment.
We form the Future Perfect Continuous with will have been + the -ing form of the verb. The same form is used for all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
Formation
Positive Form
Form the Future Perfect Continuous with will have been + verb-ing. Contractions ('ll) are common in spoken English.
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| I will have been walking for two hours by noon | I'll have been walking for two hours by noon |
| You will have been running all morning | You'll have been running all morning |
| He will have been cooking dinner for an hour | He'll have been cooking dinner for an hour |
| She will have been studying for three hours | She'll have been studying for three hours |
| It will have been raining all day | It'll have been raining all day |
| We will have been waiting for ages | We'll have been waiting for ages |
| They will have been working here for five years | They'll have been working here for five years |
Negative Form
Add 'not' after 'will' to form negatives. The contraction 'won't' is commonly used.
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| I will not have been walking for two hours by noon | I won't have been walking for two hours by noon |
| You will not have been running all morning | You won't have been running all morning |
| He will not have been cooking dinner for an hour | He won't have been cooking dinner for an hour |
| She will not have been studying for three hours | She won't have been studying for three hours |
| It will not have been raining all day | It won't have been raining all day |
| We will not have been waiting for ages | We won't have been waiting for ages |
| They will not have been working here for five years | They won't have been working here for five years |
Yes/No Questions
Move 'will' before the subject to form questions.
Examples:
- Will I have been walking for two hours by noon?
- Will you have been running all morning?
- Will he have been cooking dinner for an hour?
- Will she have been studying for three hours?
- Will it have been raining all day?
- Will we have been waiting for ages?
- Will they have been working here for five years?
Wh- Questions
Begin with a question word, then use will + subject + have been + verb-ing.
Examples:
- What will I have been doing by noon?
- Where will you have been running?
- How long will he have been cooking?
- Why will she have been studying for so long?
- When will it have been raining?
- How long will we have been waiting?
- How many years will they have been working here?
Usage
Note: Stative verbs (such as know, like, believe, want) are not usually used in continuous forms. They describe states rather than actions.
Learn more about stative verbsPractice Exercises
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Downloadable PDF
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Related Lessons
Future Continuous
Learn to describe actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
How to Use Future Simple
Understand when we chose will instead of going to or present tenses.
Future Perfect Simple
Learn how to talk about actions that will be completed before a future time.
How to use the future continuous
See how to talk about future background actions using will be + -ing.