The future perfect continuous tense

1. Form of the future perfect continuous tense

2. Future continuous vs future perfect continuous

In this grammar lesson, we will learn the use and the form of the future perfect continuous (future perfect progressive) tense in English. This verb tense indicates a continuous action that will be completed at some point in the future.

1. Form of the future perfect continuous tense

Affirmative

I will have been working
You will have been working
He will have been working
She will have been working
It will have been working
We will have been working
You will have been working
They will have been working

Affirmative (short form)

I’ll have been working
You’ll have been working
He’ll have been working
She’ll have been working
It’ll have been working
We’ll have been working
You’ll have been working
They’ll have been working

Negative

I will not have been working
You will not have been working
He will not have been working
She will not have been working
It will not have been working
We will not have been working
You will not have been working
They will not have been working

Negative (short form)

I won’t have been working
You won’t have been working
He won’t have been working
She won’t have been working
It won’t have been working
We won’t have been working
You won’t have been working
They won’t have been working

Interrogative

Will I have been working?
Will you have been working?
Will he have been working?
Will she have been working?
Will it have been working?
Will we have been working?
Will you have been working?
Will they have been working?

Interrogative (Negative)

Will I not have been working?
Will you not have been working?
Will he not have been working?
Will she not have been working?
Will it not have been working?
Will we not have been working?
Will you not have been working?
Will they not have been working?

Affirmative form

Subject + will + have been + verb (ing) + object or Subject + ’ll + have been + verb (ing) + object

She will have been studying English for two hours by the time we arrive.
By next year, they will have been living in that house for a decade.
We will have been traveling for twenty-four hours straight by the time we reach Australia.
He will have been working at the company for three years this August.
The plant will have been growing in the garden for over a month by the time summer starts.
By the end of the week, I’ll have been working here for five years.
They’ll have been driving for ten hours by the time they take their next break.

Negative form

Subject + will not (won’t) + have been + verb (ing) + object

I will not have been sleeping before you come back.
They will not have been working long enough by noon.
He won’t have been practising for long before the test.
They won’t have been driving for long before they take a break.
She will not have been learning enough Spanish before she travel to Madrid.
We will not have been training for two hours before the rain starts.

Interrogative form

Will + subject + have + been + verb (ing) + ... ?

Will the lawyer have been working on the case long enough before the trial?
Will she have been practising enough before the competition?
Will they have been living here for 5 years by next year?
Will she have been teaching at the university for twenty years by next semester?
Will you have been learning enough French before you go to Paris next summer?
At the end of this course, how long will you have beeen learning French?

2. Future continuous vs future perfect continuous

Study the examples below.

By now, he will have been sleeping for ten hours.
The police will have been interrogating the suspects all day to get to the bottom of the case.
Let’s stop by Jack’s house to say hello. He will have woken up by now (future perfect simple).
The concert will have been finished by now (future perfect simple).
We could ask Ben to go with us. He won’t be working today (future continuous).
A. Let’s stop by Jack’s house to say hello.
B. Won’t he be sleeping at this time? (future continuous)