Future Perfect Continuous Tense: Formula, Usage, Signs

Future perfect continuous (Future Perfect Continuous) is one of the most complex and important tenses in English grammar. Widely used in English exams, this is a tense that you should practice carefully to prepare well for important tests.

ETEST English for Study Abroad has synthesized the most basic knowledge about then future perfect continuous to help you grasp and be more confident in using it. Let's find out the details in the article below!

Definition of Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe an action/event that will continue to happen before a certain time in the future.

For example:

• We will have been waiting for the bus for 20 minutes.
• By next year, she will have been working at the hospital for 15 years.
• By the time the concert starts, he will have been waiting for two hours.
• By the end of the week, I will have finished writing my report.

To learn and use a variety of tenses. See now 12 tenses in English for a more comprehensive and systematic view.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Formula

Affirmative sentence

Formula: S + will + have + been + V-ing

In there:

• S (subject): Subject of the sentence
• will/ have: auxiliary verb
• been: second participle of the verb “to be”
• V-ing: main verb add -ing

For example:

• By the end of this week, they will have been building the house for 2 months.
• We will have been working on this project by 5p.m tomorrow.

Negative sentence

Formula: S + will not + have + been + V-ing

In there:

• S (subject): Subject of the sentence
• been: second participle of the verb “to be”
• V-ing: main verb add -ing

Note: will not = won't

For example:

• They won't have been living in that house for more than ten years by the end of this month.
• They won't have been running the business for more than a decade when they decide to retire.

Question

yes/no question

Formula: Will + S (+ not) + have + been + V-ing +… ?

Answer: Yes, S + will /No, S + won't.

In there:

• S (subject): Subject of the sentence
• been: second participle of the verb “to be”
• V-ing: main verb add -ing

For example:

• Will he have been feeling sick for a few days already?
• Won't you have been packing your bags for the trip all month?

Wh-question

Formula: Wh-question + will + S + have + been + V-ing +…?

In there:

• S (subject): Subject of the sentence
• been: second participle of the verb “to be”
• V-ing: main verb add -ing

For example:

• What will you have been studying by the end of this semester?
• When will she have been living in France for 10 years?

How to use the future perfect continuous tense in English

Signs to recognize the future perfect continuous tense

The future perfect continuous tense often uses the following adverbs in the sentence:

• By then: By then
• By the end of this week/month/year: By the end of this week/month/year
• By this + month: By this month…
• By the time + clause in present simple tense

For example:

• By then, they will have been living in that house for fifteen years.
• By the end of this year, he will have been saving money for his trip around the world.
• By this August, the company will have been developing the new software for over a year.
• By the time he gets home, she will have cleaned the entire house.

Important notes when using the future perfect continuous tense

Note 1: Time adverbs are not used in the future perfect continuous.

The future perfect continuous is not appropriate in sentences beginning with time words such as “when”, “while”, “as soon as”, “by the time”, “before”, “after”, “if”, “unless”… Instead, you should use the present perfect continuous tense to express actions or events that relate to a specific time in the future.

For example:

• Wrong sentence: When you will have been studying for five hours, take a break.
• Correct sentence: When you have been studying for five hours, take a break.

Note 2: Some words are not used in the continuous form or the future perfect continuous tense.

The following words cannot be used in either the continuous or the future perfect continuous. Instead, you must use the future perfect tense.

• State: be, mean, suit, cost, fit
• possession: have, belong
• Senses: feel, smell, taste, touch, hear, see
• Emotions: hate, hope, regret, want, wish, like, love, prefer
• Brain work: believe, know, think, understand

For example:

• Wrong sentence: I will have been believing in him for ten years by the time he returns.

Correct sentence (using future perfect tense): I will have believed in him for ten years by the time he returns.

Note 3: The word “be going to” replaces “will” to express the same content in this tense (Give specific examples)

“Be going to” can be used instead of “will” to express the same meaning, expressing the same content in the sentence.

For example:

• By next year, I am going to have been working here for ten years.

Note 4: Use the passive form in the future perfect continuous tense

Formula: Will have been being + V3/ed

For example:

• They will have been building the bridge for three years by 2025. (active)

—> The bridge will have been built by them for three years by 2025. (passive)

Distinguish between future perfect continuous and future perfect

To better understand the Formula, usage and detailed exercises of Future Perfect Tense. See at Future perfect tense.

Future perfect continuous exercises with detailed answers

Here are some exercises on future perfect continuous From basic to advanced with answers for you to practice and improve your knowledge.

Exercise:

A. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses using the future perfect continuous tense.

1. By this time next year, she __________ (study) at the university for three years.
2. By 2025, they __________ (live) in their new house for a decade.
3. By the end of this month, I __________ (work) on this project for six months.
4. By next summer, we __________ (travel) around Europe for two months.
5. By 8 PM tonight, he __________ (cook) dinner for two hours.
6. By the time you arrive, she __________ (practice) the piano for three hours.
7. By next winter, we __________ (ski) in the Alps for five seasons.
8. By 2026, he __________ (drive) that old car for twenty years.
9. By next Friday, I __________ (attend) this course for a month.
10. By the end of this week, they __________ (build) the bridge for two years.

B. Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence.

1. By the time you arrive, we __________.

1. a) will have been waiting
   b) will wait
   c) waited

1. By the end of the year, he __________ his new job for six months.

1. a) will be doing
   b) will have been doing
   c) does

1. By next January, they __________ construction on the new building for a year. 

1. a) will finish
   b) will have been finishing
   c) will have been working on

1. By the time the concert starts, she __________ for tickets for two hours. 

1. a) will have been queuing
   b) is queuing
   c) will queue

1. By this time next week, we __________ in the office for a month. 

1. a) will be working
   b) will work
   c) will have been working

1. By the time the movie starts, I __________ for tickets for an hour. 

1. a) will have been standing
   b) stand
   c) will be standing

1. By this time next month, she __________ her new job for six weeks. 

1. a) will have been doing
   b) does
   c) will do

1. By next September, they __________ at the company for five years. 

1. a) will work
   b) will have been working
   c) have worked

1. By the end of the semester, he __________ for his exams for three months. 

1. a) will study
   b) studies
   c) will have been studying

1. By tomorrow morning, we __________ on this project for two nights straight. 

1. a) will work
   b) will have been working
   c) have worked

C. Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences using the future perfect continuous tense.

1. She will study at the university for three years by this time next year.

->____________________________________________________

1. They will live in their new house for a decade by 2025.

->____________________________________________________

1. I will work on this project for six months by the end of this month.

->____________________________________________________

1. We will travel around Europe for two months by next summer.

->____________________________________________________

1. He will cook dinner for two hours by 8 PM tonight.

->____________________________________________________

1. They will build the bridge for two years by the end of this week.

->____________________________________________________

1. She will practice the piano for three hours by the time you arrive.

->____________________________________________________

1. We will ski in the Alps for five seasons by next winter.

->____________________________________________________

1. He will drive that old car for twenty years by 2026.

->____________________________________________________

1. I will attend this course for a month by next Friday.

->____________________________________________________

D. Create Sentences

Create sentences using the future perfect continuous tense based on the given prompts.

1. She / study / Spanish / two years / next summer

->____________________________________________________

1. They / renovate / house / three months / by September

->____________________________________________________

1. I / read / this book / two weeks / by Friday

->____________________________________________________

1. We / plan / our vacation / six months / by December

->____________________________________________________

1. He / play / the piano / ten years / by next concert

->____________________________________________________

1. He / work / company / fifteen years / by the end of this year

->____________________________________________________

1. They / travel / around the world / six months / by next June

->____________________________________________________

1. She / teach / English / five years / by next semester

->____________________________________________________

1. We / plan / wedding / a year / by the time it happens

->____________________________________________________

1. I / train / for the marathon / four months / by the time of the race

->____________________________________________________

Answer:

A.

B.

1. a) will have been waiting
2. b) will have been doing
3. c) will have been working on
4. a) will have been queuing
5. c) will have been working
6. a) will have been standing
7. a) will have been doing
8. b) will have been working
9. c) will have been studying
10. b) will have been working

C.

1. By this time next year, she will have been studying at the university for three years.
2. By 2025, they will have been living in their new house for a decade.
3. By the end of this month, I will have been working on this project for six months.
4. By next summer, we will have been traveling around Europe for two months.
5. By 8 PM tonight, he will have been cooking dinner for two hours.
6. By the end of this week, they will have been building the bridge for two years.
7. By the time you arrive, she will have been practicing the piano for three hours.
8. By next winter, we will have been skiing in the Alps for five seasons.
9. By 2026, he will have been driving that old car for twenty years.
10. By next Friday, I will have been attending this course for a month.

D.

1. By next summer, she will have been studying Spanish for two years.
2. By September, they will have been renovating their house for three months.
3. By Friday, I will have been reading this book for two weeks.
4. By December, we will have been planning our vacation for six months.
5. By his next concert, he will have been playing the piano for ten years.
6. By the end of this year, he will have been working at the company for fifteen years.
7. By next June, they will have been traveling around the world for six months.
8. By next semester, she will have been teaching English for five years.
9. By the time it happens, we will have been planning the wedding for a year.
10. By the time of the race, I will have been training for the marathon for four months.

See also: Future perfect exercises

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See also:

• Thì quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp diễn
• Simple future tense