Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Definition and Examples

Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe actions which is continuing in the present as well as will continue or completed in future till a specified time. For specifying time in such sentences two words are used – since and for.

‘Since’ is used specify an exact starting time for the action being talked about (i.e. since Monday, since 1979 etc) while ‘for’ is used to specify a duration of time for which the action is supposed to continue in future. ‘Future Perfect Tense’ purely talks about the incidents those are supposed to be taking place in future; similarly, ‘Future Perfect Continuous Tense’ are used to describe actions that are happening in present and will continue in future till a specified time. Below given are some examples of ‘Future Perfect Continuous’ sentences –

• I will have been working here for two years.
• I will have been requesting leave since last Friday.
• By 2019, I will have been driving for 25 years.
• We will have been going to college since we were five.
• Ron will have been playing football since childhood.
• By 2020, I will have been known him for 15 years.
• The plane will have been flying nonstop for ten hours.
• He will have been reading the book since last Friday.
• She will have been cooking since afternoon.
• They will have been waiting for you for 5 hours.
• By tomorrow, she will have been singing for two years.

Like all other tense forms ‘Future Perfect Continuous Tense’ can also be expressed in Negative and Interrogative Forms as given below-

Negative – Future Perfect Continuous Tense –

• I will not have been playing cricket for five years.
• We will not have been going to college since last weekend.
• She will not have been eating since Monday.
• They will not have been driving for ten hours.
• By 2020, I will not have been working for twenty years.

‘Won’t ‘which is an abbreviation or short form of ‘will not’ may also be used as shown below-

• I won’t have been playing cricket for five years.
• We won’t have been going to college since last weekend.
• She won’t have been eating since Monday.
• They won’t have been driving for ten years.
• By 2020, I won’t have been working for twenty years.

Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous Tense sentences-

• Will I have been working here for five years?
• Will she have been writing since Monday?
• Will they have been waiting since 10 AM?
• Will the children have been studying since Morning?
• Will you have been working here for five years by 2019?

We have understood the basic idea of Positive, Negative and Interrogative sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense; we will further study and practice all of them individually in the following exercises.

a) Positive Sentence

Structure/Formula for ‘Positive-Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences

The Structure/Formula for Positive Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense is as given below-

• (Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object)
• (Subject + ‘will have been’ + Present Participle + Object)

Rules for ‘Positive-Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences

In Positive Future Perfect Continuous sentences auxiliary verb used is ‘will have been’ with present participle form of the verb i.e. – ing form like- singing, swimming, dancing etc. The object in these kinds of sentences often contains a time reference- since May, since 10 AM, for two years, for 5 months etc.

Go through the below affirmative sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense-

• I will have been waiting for ten hours.
• By next month he will have been cycling for 24 hours.
• By the time you meet her she will have been cooking for two hours.
• She will have been cooking for two hours by the time you meet her.
• By next year, they will have been supporting the kids for five years.
• They will have been requesting a raise since February.
• The children will have been playing since morning.
• The parents will have been coming since 8 AM.
• The teachers will have been protesting for two days.
• The birds will have been flying for 20 days.

The above sentences refer to the event those are continuing in present and will continue till a specified time or specified time duration.

Exercises/Worksheet/Activities

Fill in the Blank Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on ‘Positive Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences:

Complete the following sentences by using proper words, auxiliary verbs or verb forms so as to complete a Positive sentence in Future Perfect Continuous form. Cross check your answers with the answers provided at the end of the exercise. Take the help of the verb hints wherever provided.

1) I ___________ reading the book since 2017.

2) Next Monday she _____________ going to college for two years.

3) By this Saturday, they ___________ been driving for five days.

4) She will have been ___________ for exams for a month. (prepare)

5) They will have been working on the project __________ 1975.

6) The plants will have been going waterless ___________ seven days.

7)  She will _____________ been cooking since morning.

8) He will have been __________ in the same restaurant __________ ten years. (eat)

9) Teachers ____________ teaching for two years on 25^th.

10) By next year, they _________ have been __________ in the same house for twelve years. (live)

11) By tonight, I ____________ studying since morning.

12) They will __________ celebrating for five years.

13) The kids will have been playing _________ 9 AM.

14) They _________ working for ten hours.

15) He will have been working as an accountant ___________ December.

16) She __________ have been swimming for five years.

17) They will have been speculating ___________ Monday.

18) It ___________ working since August.

19) She ________ have been cooking for five hours.

20) He will _________ been reporting since morning.

Answers- 1)will have been, 2)will have been, 3)will have, 4)preparing, 5)since, 6)for, 7)have, 8)eating, for, 9)will have been, 10)will, living, 11)will have been, 12)have been, 13)since, 14)will have been, 15)since, 16)will, 17)since, 18)will have been, 19)will, 20)have

MCQ Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on ‘Positive Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences:

Choose the proper word from the choices given so as to make the sentences in Positive Future Perfect Continuous, also verify your progress with the answers provided at the end of the exercise.

1) She ____________ writing to him since 2015.

1. a) will have been
2. b) must
3. c) should be

2) By next month, I will have been ____________ here for five years.

1. a) worked
2. b) works
3. c) working

3) He will _________ been lecturing since morning.

1. a) had
2. b) have
3. c) not

4) He will have been ___________ for 24 hours.

1. a) drive
2. b) driving
3. c) drives

5) She __________ negotiating the price for a week.

1. a) was
2. b) indeed was
3. c) will have been

6) Till this year end they will have been ___________ an outsider ___________ five years.

1. a) selecting, for
2. b) selecting, since
3. c) selected, for

7) It _______ have been raining since morning.

1. a) could
2. b) will
3. c) would

8) They will have ___________ receiving the money since 1985.

1. a) be
2. b) not
3. c) been

9) They will have been waiting ___________ yesterday.

1. a) since
2. b) for
3. c) till

10) He will have been studying ____________ morning.

1. a) for
2. b) till
3. c) since

11) He will have been ____________ for two years.

1. a) slept
2. b) sleeping
3. c) sleep

12) They _________ have been building the house for three years.

1. a) will
2. b) must
3. c) could

13) She will have been complaining ___________ Saturday.

1. a) for
2. b) since
3. c) till

14) They will have been ___________ for two hours.

1. a) bathe
2. b) bath
3. c) bathing

15) She __________ dancing for one hour.

1. a) will have been
2. b) will not have been
3. c) will be

16) He will have been ___________ since December.

1. a) reported
2. b) reporting
3. c) report

17) They will have been requesting leave ___________ last year?

1. a) for
2. b) about
3. c) since

18) They will _________ been travelling for 3 days.

1. a) have
2. b) had
3. c) has

19) She _______ have been cleaning since morning.

1. a) should
2. b) will
3. c) could

20) They will have _________ shouting __________ twenty minutes.

1. a) been, since
2. b) be, for
3. c) been, for

Answers-  1)a, 2)c, 3)b, 4)b, 5)c, 6)a, 7)b, 8)c, 9)a, 10)c, 11)b, 12)a, 13)b, 14)c, 15)a, 16)b, 17)c, 18)a, 19)b, 20)c

True or False Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Positive Future Perfect Sentences:

Determine whether the following sentences are true or false. Check your answers with corrected sentences provided at the end of the exercise.

1) They will have been residing here since two years.

2) She will have been studying in college since 1995.

3)  He will had been eating for two hours.

4) She will have been cooking for three hours.

5) By coming Tuesday, I will have being living here for ten years.

6) You will have been sleeping since morning.

7) She would had been whining for three hours.

8) I will have been waiting for five hours.

9) They will have been sing for two hours.

10) She will have been dancing since morning.

Answers- 1)False, 2)True, 3)False, 4)True, 5)False, 6)True, 7)False, 8)True, 9)False, 10)True

Crosscheck your answers with the corrected sentences provided below:

1) They will have been residing here for two years.

3) He will have been eating for two hours.

5) By coming Tuesday, I will have been living here for ten years.

7) She will have been whining for three hours.

9) They will have been singing for two hours.

b) Negative Sentences

Structure/Formula

The Structure/Formula for Negative Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense is as given below-

• (Subject + ‘will not have been’ + Main Verb + Object)
• (Subject + ‘will not have been’ + Present Participle + Object)

Rules for ‘Negative-Future Continuous’ Sentences-

‘Will not have been’ is used between the subject and the main verb. The ‘not’ negates the sentence which otherwise would have been a positive sentence. Verb for used is Present Participle that is –‘ing’ form, followed by the Object.

Below are some examples of Negative sentences in Future Continuous Form-

• I will not have been studying since morning.
• She will not have been swimming for two years.
• They will not have been practicing law for five years.
• We will not have been flying for six hours.
• He will not have been reading since morning.
• You will not have been painting since afternoon.
• She will not have been cooking since afternoon.
• By next year they will not have been completing two years together.
• He will not have been waiting since morning.
• She will not have been practicing since Monday.

c) Negative – Interrogative Sentences

The Negative-Future Continuous’ sentences as given above may be converted into a combination of Negative-Interrogative sentences by making simple minor changes as below-

• Will I not have been studying since morning?
• Will she not have been swimming for two years?
• Will they not have been practicing law for five years?
• Will he not have been reading since morning?
• Will she not have been cooking since afternoon?

In the above sentences only a minor change has been done which transforms it into Negative-Interrogative sentences i.e. ‘will’ is placed before the ‘subject’.

Also the Negative sentences or Negative-Interrogative sentences may also be prefixed with question words as shown below. First we will understand the concept with the help of a simple formula-

• Question Word + Negative Future Perfect Continuous Sentence→ Negative Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous Sentence
• Question Word + Negative Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous Sentence→ Negative Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous Sentence

That is if a Negative sentences is prefixed with a question word, it becomes Negative-Interrogative. For ex-

• She will not have been swimming for five years. (Negative)
• Why she will not have been swimming for five years? (Negative-Interrogative)
• You will not have been painting since afternoon. (Negative)
• How you will not have been painting since afternoon? (Negative- Interrogative)

But, if an already Negative-Interrogative sentence is prefixed with a question word it remains Negative- Interrogative.

For Example-

• Will I not have been studying since morning? (Negative-Interrogative)
• How I will not have been studying since morning? (Negative-Interrogative)
• Will she not have been cooking since afternoon? (Negative-Interrogative)
• Why she will not have been cooking since afternoon? (Negative-Interrogative)

Exercises/Worksheet/Activities

Fill in the Blank Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on ‘Negative Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences:

Complete the following sentences by using proper words, auxiliary verbs or verb forms so as to complete a Negative sentence in Future Perfect Continuous form. Cross check your answers with those provided at the end of the exercise. Take the help of the verb hints wherever provided.

1) I ___________ have been reading the book since 2017.

2) Next Monday she will not _____________ going to college for two years.

3) By this Saturday, they ___________ driving for five days.

4) She will __________have been going to college for a month.

5) They will not ________ been working on the same project for five years.

6) By next month, she will not _____________ turning thirty.

7)  When you meet her, she will _________ have _________ missing you for five months.

8) He will not have been __________ in the same hotel for two years. (stay)

9) Teachers will not __________ listening to the kids for one hour.

10) By next month we ___________not have been living here for ten years.

11) I will not have been studying ___________ morning.

12) He will not have been driving __________ twenty hours.

13) The kids will not have been playing _________ 9 AM.

14) They _________not have been busy for three hours.

15) He will _________ have been eating since morning.

16) She will _________ been calling for two days.

17) They will ___________have been speculating since Monday.

18) It ___________ working since August.

19) She ________ have been cooking for five hours.

20) He will _________ been reporting since morning.

Answers- 1)will not, 2) have been, 3)will not have been, 4)not, 5)have, 6)have been, 7)not, been, 8)staying, 9) have been, 10)will, 11)since, 12)for, 13)since, 14)will not, 15)not, 16)not have, 17)not, 18)will not have been, 19)will not, 20)not have

MCQ Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on ‘Negative Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences:

Choose the proper word from the choices given so as to make the sentences as Negative Future Perfect Continuous, also verify your progress with the answers provided at the end of the exercise.

1) She will __________ have been dancing since morning.

1. a) not
2. b) must
3. c) never

2) I _________ not have been living here for five years.

1. a) would
2. b) will
3. c) must

3) He will not __________ been playing since morning.

1. a) had
2. b) have
3. c) not

4) He will __________have been ___________ for 24 hours.

1. a) never, drive
2. b) not, driving
3. c) not, drives

5) She will not have __________ looking for him for six months..

1. a) be
2. b) ever
3. c) been

6) He will not have been writing _________ morning.

1. a) for
2. b) since
3. c) till

7) It will not have been ___________ for two days.

1. a) working
2. b) worked
3. c) works

8) They will not have been _____________ the money for two years.

1. a) received
2. b) receiving
3. c) receive

9) They will not have been waiting ___________ yesterday.

1. a) since
2. b) for
3. c) till

10) She will not have been ___________ since afternoon.

1. a) cooked
2. b) cooking
3. c) cook

11) The pilot will not have been _________ for three years.

1. a) fly
2. b) flew
3. c) flying

12) They _________ have been asking bonus for one year.

1. a) will not
2. b) must not
3. c) could not

13) She will not have been travelling alone __________ 1987.

1. a) for
2. b) since
3. c) till

14) They will have ________been ___________ for two hours.

1. a) not, bathe
2. b) not, bath
3. c) not,bathing

15) She will __________ have been studying for three hours.

1. a) never
2. b) not
3. c) must

16) He will __________ been sleeping since yesterday.

1. a) not have
2. b) never have
3. c) have

17) They will not have been __________ cricket since morning.

1. a) play
2. b) playing
3. c) played

18) They will _________ been travelling for 3 days.

1. a) not have
2. b) never had
3. c) never

19) She will __________ have been living here since 1995.

1. a) never
2. b) not
3. c) ever

20) They will not have ________ moving for five minutes.

1. a) been
2. b) be
3. c) being

Answers- 1)a, 2)b, 3)b, 4)b, 5)c, 6)b, 7)a, 8)b, 9)a, 10)b, 11)c, 12)a, 13)b, 14)c, 15)b, 16)a, 17)b, 18)a, 19)b, 20)a

True or False Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Negative Future Perfect Continuous Sentences:

Determine whether the below Negative Future Perfect Continuous sentences are true or false. Crosscheck your answers with the corrected sentences provided at the end of the exercise.

1) He will have been living here for ten years.

2) They will not have been drinking water for two days.

3)  She will never have been driving alone since 1985.

4) They will not have been residing for five years.

5) He will have been preparing for exams for two months.

6) She will not have been playing since morning.

7) They will have been completed the project for five months.

8) By next hour, I will not have been eating for ten hours.

9) They will not have been sing for two hours.

10) He will not have been dancing since morning.

Answers- 1)False, 2)True, 3)False, 4)True, 5)False, 6)True, 7)False, 8)True, 9)False, 10)True

Crosscheck your answers with the corrected sentences provided below:

1) He will not have been living here for ten years.

3) She will not have been driving alone since 1985.

5) He will not have been preparing for exams for two months.

7) They will not have been completing the project for five months.

9) They will not have been singing for two hours.

d) Interrogative Sentences

Structure/Formula

The Structure/Formula for Interrogative Sentences in Future Perfect Continuous Tense is-

• (Will + Subject + ‘have been’ + Main Verb + Object)
• (Will + Subject + ‘have been’ + Present Participle + Object)

Rules for Interrogative-Future Continuous Sentences:

The Interrogative sentences start with ‘Will’ using ‘have been’ between the subject and present participle form of the main verb. The object contains the time reference.

Below sentences are some examples of Interrogative-Future Continuous Sentences.

• Will I have been waiting for five hours?
• Will they have been driving since morning?
• Will she have been cooking for six hours?
• Will he have been working here for four years on coming Tuesday?
• Will he have been sleeping since afternoon?
• Will he have been disobeying the rules since last year?
• Will they have been playing since morning?
• Will it have been working for ten hours in a row?
• Will she have been completing her work for two years?
• Will he have been going hiking for eight years?

Also the above Interrogative-sentences may be prefixed by question words without changing their original interrogative or tense forms.

For example-

• When will I have been waiting for five hours?
• How will they have been driving since morning?
• How will he have been sleeping since afternoon?
• When will it have been working for ten hours in arrow?
• When will he have been going hiking for eight years?

e) Interrogative – Negative Sentences

The above Interrogative Sentences can be transformed into Interrogative-Negative Sentences by inserting  ‘not’ between the subject and have, as shown in the examples below-

• Will I have been waiting for five hours? (Interrogative)
• Will not I have been waiting for five hours? (Interrogative-Negative)
• Will they have been driving since morning? (Interrogative)
• Will not they have been driving since morning? (Interrogative-Negative)

Or

• Will they not have been driving since morning? (Interrogative-Negative)

Also, question words may also be prefixed to the Interrogative-Negative sentences as below-

• How will not I have been waiting for five hours?

Or

• How I will not have been waiting for five hours?
• How will not they have been driving since morning?

Or

• How they will not have been driving since morning?

Exercises

Fill in the Blank Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on ‘Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences:

Complete the following sentences by using proper words, auxiliary verbs or verb forms so as to complete a Negative sentence in Future Perfect Continuous form. Cross check your answers with those provided at the end of the exercise. Take the help of the verb hints wherever provided.

1) ________ I have been reading newspaper for three years?

2) Will she __________ been going to college for two years?

3) Will they have been driving ________ Saturday?

4) Will he have __________ going there for five months?

5) Will they ___________ been painting since last month?

6)  ________ he have been playing since morning?

7) Will she ___________ cooking since afternoon?

8) Will he have been __________ the same car for ten years? (drive)

9) Will the teachers _________ teaching from the same book for five years?

10) ________ he have been living in the same house since January?

11) Will she _________ been talking to him __________ childhood?

12) __________ they have been travelling by public transport for four years?

13) Will I have ___________ sleeping since morning?

14) Will they have been __________ in the same factory for ten years?

15) _________ she have been eating from the same plate for two years?

16) Will they have been driving _________ two hours?

17) Will he have been preparing ________ Friday?

18) Will it have ________ working for two days tonight?

19) Will she have been driving nonstop ________ ten hours?

20) ________ I have been collecting stamps since Monday?

Answers- 1)will, 2)have, 3)since, 4)been, 5)have, 6)will, 7)have been, 8)driving, 9)have been , 10)will, 11)have, since,12)will, 13)been, 14)working, 15)will, 16)for, 17)since, 18)been, 19)for, 20)will

MCQ Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on ‘Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous’ Sentences:

Choose the proper word from the choices given so as to make the sentences in Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous, also verify your progress with the answers provided at the end of the exercise.

1) ________ she have been studying since morning?

1. a) will
2. b) did
3. c) would

2) Will they ____________ singing for two hours?

1. a) should be
2. b) would be
3. c) have been

3) Will he have been __________ since morning?

1. a) play
2. b) playing
3. c) played

4) Will he have ___________ meeting her for six years?

1. a) been
2. b) be
3. c) being

5) Will he have been _________ the new car since last year?

1. a) drive
2. b) driven
3. c) driving

6) ___________ they have been working on the project since August?

1. a) since
2. b) will
3. c) could

7) Will the sirens __________ sounding for couple of hours?

1. a) have been
2. b) had been
3. c) not been

8) Will she have been calling you _________ yesterday?

1. a) hence
2. b) from
3. c) since

9) __________ you have been drinking milk for two years?

1. a) when
2. b) will
3. c) till

10) Will she have been ___________ since afternoon?

1. a) cooked
2. b) cooking
3. c) cook

11) Will the pilot have been _________ for three years?

1. a) fly
2. b) flew
3. c) flying

12) Will they have been writing ________ two hours?

1. a) for
2. b) before
3. c) after

13) Will she not have been __________ since morning?

1. a) sing
2. b) singing
3. c) sung

14) Will he __________ been visiting the doctor since Friday?

1. a) has
2. b) had
3. c) have

15) _______ they have been visiting village for five years?

1. a) will
2. b) could
3. c) should

16) Will he __________ been sleeping since yesterday?

1. a) have
2. b) had
3. c) has

17) Will they have ____________ protesting for three days?

1. a) be
2. b) been
3. c) never

18) Will they have been __________ for a year?

1. a) travelling
2. b) travel
3. c) trravelled

19) Will she have been ___________ since morning?

1. a) obey
2. b) obeyed
3. c) obeying

20) Will they have ________ dancing for five minutes?

1. a) been
2. b) be
3. c) being

Answers- 1)a, 2)c, 3)b, 4)a, 5)c, 6)b, 7)a, 8)c, 9)b, 10)b, 11)c, 12)a, 13)b, 14)c, 15)a, 16)a, 17)b, 18)a, 19)c, 20)a

True or False Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Interrogative Future Perfect Sentences:

Determine whether the Interrogative Future Perfect Continuous sentences are true or false. Crosscheck your answers with the corrected sentences provided at the end of the exercise.

1) Will he have been waiting since morning?

2) Will they had been dancing since 6 PM?

3) Will She had been cooked for two hours?

4) Will it have been working for six hours?

5) Will I have been sleeping for 8 AM?

6) Should they have been meeting for five days?

7) Will she have been doing the dishes for one hour?

8) Will they have experienced difficulties since yesterday?

9) Will you have been eating medicines for ninety days?

10) Will they had been regulated the flow since two days?

Answers- 1)True, 2)False, 3)False, 4)True, 5)False, 6)False, 7)True, 8)False, 9)True, 10)False

Crosscheck your answers with the corrected sentences provided below:

2) Will they have been dancing since 6 PM?

3) Will she have been cooking for two hours?

5) Will I have been sleeping since 8 AM?

6) Will they have been meeting for five days?

8) Will they have been experiencing difficulties since yesterday?

10) Will they have been regulating the flow for two days?

Related Links:

Simple Future Tense
Future Continuous Tense
Future Perfect Tense