Future Perfect Continuous Tense: When and How to Use

What is the Future Perfect Continuous tense?

The Future Perfect Continuous tense definition may seem like a labyrinth to new learners, but let us put it simply: you can use this construction to speak or write about how long an action will be happening before a particular time in the future.

Sticking to real-life visuals is useful for speaking with advanced grammar, especially for IELTS and other exams, which also test your skills in forming sentences. Here’s the formula:

Future Perfect Continuous Tense structure

Future Perfect Continuous Tense structure 1

Let’s consider some Future Perfect Continuous tense examples:

My grandpa will have been living here for 40 years by next year.

She will have been pulling all-nighters by the time her finals start.

By the end of the week, they will have been fixing this bug for a month.

I will have been working out for three years daily by next summer.

They will have been preparingfor the celebration for a month by the end of the week.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense example 1

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Structure and form

The Future Perfect Continuous tense rules showcase how to write sentences using will have been followed by the main verb with -ing.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Formula 1

For now, let’s check how the Future Perfect Continuous tense formula works with real-life examples with full and short or more conversational forms.

We have a list of sentences from real-life examples:

Subject	Full form	Short form
I	I will have been meditating for one minute for two years by October.	I’ll have been meditating for one minute for two years by October.
You	You will have been saving money from scholarships for years to visit your Korean friends.	You’ll have been saving money from scholarships for years to visit your Korean friends.
He/she/it	She will have been exploring the country for years.	She’ll have been exploring the country for years.
We	We will have been leading your team for two months by the end of the year.	We’ll have been leading your team for two months by the end of the year.
They	They will have been developing the website for 4 months before the release day.	They’ll have been developing the website for 4 months before the release day.
You (plural)	You will have been commuting to the office twice a week by 2026.	You’ll have been commuting to the office twice a week by 2026.

When to use it in English?

As the Future Perfect Continuous tense definition stands for the way to describe when the action will be happening before some points in the future, we will consider daily usage with easy and understandable situations. You can find reliable information for other tenses in English grammar and recall your knowledge while learning how to implement Future Perfect Progressive.

Overview Future Perfect Continuous examples for situations:

Usage	Example
Showcase duration before points in the future	Sam will have been working in this company for 19 years by next year.
Reason behind a state or result in the future	I will be exhausted because I will have been studying for 3 hours before the class begins.
Predictions about ongoing situations	At 10 p.m., they will have been gaming for 6 hours.
Plans or expectations	They will have been passing this exam for 7 hours by the time we come to the class.

Examples of Future Perfect Continuous tense with time markers:

Time indicators	Examples
by + specific time	This book is hard. I will have been reading “Katabasis” for a year by 2027.
for	I will have been taking a shower for hours by the end of lunchtime.
by the time	Children will have been playing for 5 hours by the time their mom arrives home.
by the end of	Our team will have been writing the sales report by the end of the week.
before	We will have been locking in all weekend before the conference.

Tip:

If you noticed there are phrases used for other tenses as well, you are right. They differ by context, as Future Perfect Continuous tense sentences indicate the duration of an action before something else happens in the future.

Future Perfect Continuous Meaning
Emphasize the duration before another event in the future
for	He will have been working at the company for a decade by next summer.
by + future time	By 6 p.m., I will have been working on this project for eight hours.
by the time	By the time she arrives, we will have been staying here for over an hour.
Cause of a future state/result
because	She will be tired because she will have been working all day.
since	I will be sleepy since I will have been staying up late packing for the trip.
Plans and intentions
until	I will have been waiting for you until the early hours of the morning.
hopefully	Hopefully, they will have been working on the presentation all morning before the meeting starts.

How to use this tense correctly?

We have discovered the structure for various sentences, but there are a plethora of cases when you need to ask questions or agree/disagree with some statements. Let’s find out how to do it.

Affirmative sentences

This type is the most common one, and you have already learned a lot of examples when defining what is the Future Perfect Continuous tense. The formula looks similar as well:

Subject + will + have + been + verb (-ing)

You will use it a lot when telling or writing stories, preparing for exams (especially for essays), or discussing some long-term work/school projects. Here are some examples:

Full form	Short form
She will have been playing “Baldur’s Gate” for two hours by 8 p.m.	She’ll have been playing “Baldur’s Gate” for two hours by 8 p.m.
He will have been sleeping for 12 hours by the next morning.	He’ll have been sleeping for 12 hours by the next morning.
They will have been practicing the new album for one month before the world tour.	They’ll have been practicing the new album for one month before the world tour.

Negative sentences

This part of our explanation will help you to tell that an action will not have been happening for a defined period of time up to some point in the future, and you can use will not have been with the -ing form of a verb and add some extra details if needed.

Future Perfect Continuous formula for negative sentences 1

Here are some more examples to dive deeper into the topic:

Full form	Short form
They will not have been partying long enough when we arrive.	They won’t have been partying long enough when we arrive.
I will not have been studying for 12 hours like you before the test comes.	I won’t have been studying for 12 hours like you before the test comes.
She will not have been cooking for two hours before you come.	She won’t have been cooking for two hours before you come.
They will not have been learning Chinese for half of the year by December.	They won’t have been learning Chinese for half of the year by December.
He will not have been reading a book per day by the end of the year.	He won’t have been reading a book per day by the end of the year.
By next term, my mother will not have been attending the course for the year.	By next term, my mother won’t have been attending the course for the year.

Questions

Yes/No questions

Future Perfect Continuous formula for Questions 1

You will learn it faster with a Future Perfect Continuous tense example that can be used in daily scenarios. Here’s a comprehensive overview of such sentences:

Question	Answer
Will you have been working here for a decade by next month?	Yes, I will have been working here for a decade by next month.
Will she have been making over this room all evening?	Yes, she will have been making over this room all evening.
Will you have been cutting your spending for a year by next January?	No, I have not been cutting my spending for a year by next January.

Wh-questions

Learn how to form such questions with these examples:

Question	Answer
How long will you have been going to the gym by the end of the year?	I will have been going to the gym for three months by the end of the year.
Why will you have been practicing playing all day?	I will have been practicing playing all day because of my next competition.
What will you have been doing for 3 hours here by the time I arrive?	I will have been reading my Kindle for 3 hours by the time you arrive.

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Common mistakes learners make

We make mistakes, and that’s OK, so let’s define them and learn how to prevent them instead of giving up on learning, deal? As it’s also an experience and way to study, here is an example of the Future Perfect Continuous tense that may confuse you.

Using the wrong tense

It’s so confusing when you have 12 tenses, but you still need to use them properly, and sometimes, future continuous seems to fit into the sentence when it doesn’t. Here’s how it goes:

Incorrect	Correct
By next week, I will be working here for five years.	By next week, I will have been working here for five years.
She will be living in Seoul for a decade next year.	She will have been living in Seoul for a decade next year.
He will be operating the task for three weeks at 4 a.m.	He will have been operating the task for three weeks at 4 a.m.

Tip:

When the actions you talk about have been going on until a point in the future, it’s advisable to use the Future Perfect Progressive tense.

Putting the wrong auxiliary verbs

Mixing up have and has is not a new story, so you just need to remember that the structure for the Future Perfect Continuous is will have been doing.

Incorrect	Correct
He will has been doing a lot to stay healthy.	He will have been doing a lot to stay healthy.
She will has been waiting for this concert for 5 hours before we come.	She will have been waiting for this concert for 5 hours before we come.
He will has been swimming for 30 minutes before the corporate work starts.	He will have been swimming for 30 minutes before the corporate work starts.

Tips for mastering this tense

The English language is the queen of exceptions and complex grammar concepts, just like the structure of the Future Perfect Continuous tense you are mastering today. So, how to build fluency? Tips from native speakers and experienced learners will be your helping hand.

Tip 1. Visualize a lot

You can make a timeline for this tense, picturing that some action started in the past and see how it will be performing for some period of time and when it will be finished. The helpful moment here will be time expressions that you learn: by, by the time, for, since, and so on.

Tip 2. Visualize a lot

You are able to learn this complex grammar when talking about common things in your life, whether you are a student, a worker, or have any hobbies, a business that you run, and more.

Through the example of the Future Perfect Continuous tense that can be used, there is the study process (for English), your plans, job tasks, and more — literally anything that drives your passion and keeps your attention.

Tip 3. Practice a lot.

You will need to do various activities, for example, the ones you can find in this article and our exercises section, and when using our learning app. From negative and positive sentences to questions with various interrogative words — practice a lot when you have time, and make it your daily activity.

Tip 3. Add listening and reading activities.

If you are a fan of podcasts, historical, literature, cosmos or else, then you can listen to them and identify the Future Perfect Continuous tense structure and usage, especially if it is an academic-related topic.

You can also watch YouTube videos, shows on Netflix, or read articles and books that you find interesting — everything that will help you to have fun and learn simultaneously.

Following these tips, you will discover the nitty-gritty behind a complex grammar rule and become more fluent, which will allow you to move on, make your writing and speaking skills stronger, and open new opportunities for content consumption.

Summary

For now, you should be able to use the Future Perfect Continuous in various situations, expanding your vocabulary as well with real-life examples. Continue practicing with the exercises we’ve created for you, and become an expert in English.

Future Perfect Progressive FAQ

What is the difference between Future Perfect Continuous and Future Perfect?

Remember that Future Perfect doesn’t have the sense of an action that keeps going; it describes the completion of something:

I will have been writing my thesis by 10 pm.

While Future Perfect Continuous has the duration in it:

I will have been writing my thesis for 12 hours by 10 pm.

Is it possible to use stative verbs in this tense?

Yes, we typically write them in the basic form. The number of such words is huge; you see them daily: believe, love, know.

Incorrect	Correct
I will have been knowing him for a decade next year.	I will have known him for a decade next year.

What time expressions go with this tense?

You need to memorize the ones that you will meet in daily conversations, for example, since, which is used commonly to show the duration. There is also by the + time when, end of the week, which expresses the end of an action.

It is also notable that for can be used for this tense as well, as well as all day/week/month and so on.

Is Future Perfect Continuous common in everyday English?

No, it is not that often used as Present Continuous, for example. The reason is that there are fewer moments when you need to use it; still, when it comes to academic writing, you will encounter this tense a lot.

According to the experience from native speakers, they don’t use Future Perfect Progressive for daily actions like having dinner, brushing teeth and others. Still, job-related situations may need this complex tense, especially if you are discussing terms for a project: I will have been doing this presentation for five hours by the end of the day.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense: a Full Guide

What is the Future Perfect Continuous tense?

Structure and form

When to use it in English?