Future Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous has two different forms: "will have been doing " and
"be going to have been doing." Unlike Simple Future
forms, Future Perfect Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.
FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Will"
[will have been + present participle]
Examples:
- Affirmative: You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her
plane finally arrives.
- Negative: You will not have been waiting
for more than two hours when her
plane finally arrives.
- Interrogative: Will you have been waiting for more than two
hours when her plane finally arrives?
FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Be Going To"
[am/is/are + going to have been + present participle]
Examples:
- Affirmative: You are going to have been waiting for more than two hours when
her plane finally arrives.
- Negative: You are not going to have been waiting for more than two hours
when her plane finally arrives.
- Interrogative: Are you going to have been waiting for more
than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future
Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
Using "Will"
| Positive |
Negative |
Question |
I will have been sleeping.
You will have been sleeping.
We will have been sleeping.
They will have been sleeping.
He will have been sleeping.
She will have been sleeping.
It will have been sleeping.
|
I will not have been sleeping.
You will not have been sleeping.
We will not have been sleeping.
They will not have been sleeping.
He will not have been sleeping.
She will not have been sleeping.
It will not have been sleeping.
|
Will I have been sleeping?
Will you have been sleeping?
Will we have been sleeping?
Will they have been sleeping?
Will he have been sleeping?
Will she have been sleeping?
Will it have been sleeping?
|
Using "Be Going To"
| Positive |
Negative |
Question |
I am going to have been sleeping.
You are going to have been sleeping.
We are going to have been sleeping.
They are going to have been sleeping.
He is going to have been sleeping.
She is going to have been sleeping.
It is going to have been sleeping.
|
I am not going to have been sleeping.
You are not going to have been sleeping.
We are not going to have been sleeping.
They are not going to have been sleeping.
He is not going to have been sleeping.
She is not going to have been sleeping.
It is not going to have been sleeping.
|
Am I going to have been sleeping?
Are you going to have been sleeping?
Are we going to have been sleeping?
Are they going to have been sleeping?
Is he going to have been sleeping?
Is she going to have been sleeping?
Is it going to have been sleeping?
|
Duration Before Something in the Future
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up
until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two
weeks," and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future
Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the
Past Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration
stops at or before a reference point in the future.
Examples:
- They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas
arrives.
- She is going to have been working at that company for three
years when it finally closes.
- James will have been teaching at the university for more than a
year by the time he leaves for Asia.
- How long will you have been studying when you
graduate?
- We are going to have been driving for over three days straight
when we get to Anchorage.
- A: When you finish your English course, will
you have been living in New Zealand for over a year?
B: No, I will not have been living here that long.
Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked
in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because these future events are in
time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.
Cause of Something in the Future
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a
good way to show cause and effect.
Examples:
- Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging
for over an hour.
- Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she
is going to have been studying English in the United States for
over two years.
Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or
"since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous rather
than the Future Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the
meaning of the sentence. Future Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions,
whereas Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something
in the future. Study the examples below to understand the difference.
Examples:
- He will be tired because he will be exercising so hard.
- He will be tired because he will have been exercising so hard.
REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses
beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the
time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect Continuous,
Present Perfect Continuous is used.
Examples:
- You won't get a promotion until you will have been working here
as long as Tim. Not Correct
- You won't get a promotion until you have been working here as
long as Tim. Correct
AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings
for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Perfect Continuous
with these verbs, you must use Future Perfect.
Examples:
- Ned will have been having his driver's license for over two
years. Not Correct
- Ned will have had his driver's license for over two years.
Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only,
never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
- You will only have been waiting for a few minutes when her
plane arrives.
- Will you only have been waiting for a few minutes when her
plane arrives?
- You are only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when
her plane arrives.
- Are you only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when
her plane arrives?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
- The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over
six months by the time it is finished.
- The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for
over six months by the time it is finished.
- The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for
over six months by the time it is finished.
- The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous
artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Perfect Continuous are not common.
