The Future Perfect Continuous

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

(also called the future perfect progressive)

The Future Perfect Continuous Tense isn't used very much in English and it is a little complicated to make. However, at higher levels it is great to understand it, and maybe use it sometimes too. It has a very precise meaning which can be convenient.

Positive Form	Positive Short Form
I will have been working	I'll have been working
You will have been sleeping	You'll have been sleeping
She will have been studying	She'll have been studying
He will have been cooking	He'll have been cooking
It will have been raining	It'll have been raining
We will have been exercising	We'll have been exercising
They will have been travelling	They'll have been travelling

Negative Form	Negative Short Form
I will not have been working	I won't have been working
You will not have been sleeping	You won't have been sleeping
She will not have been studying	She won't have been studying
He will not have been cooking	He won't have been cooking
It will not have been raining	It won't have been raining
We will not have been exercising	We won't have been exercising
They will not have been travelling	They won't have been travelling

'Yes / No' Questions
Will I have been working?
Will you have been sleeping?
Will she have been studying?
Will he have been cooking?
Will it have been raining?
Will we have been exercising?
Will they have been travelling?

Wh' Questions
Where Will I have been working?
Why will you have been sleeping?
Where will she have been studying?
What will he have been cooking?
How long will it have been raining?
Where will we have been exercising?
How long will they have been travelling? Future Perfect Continuous Use We use the future perfect continuous tense to: With a time word, to talk about an action which starts before a time in the future and continues up to that time. In April 2009, I will have been teaching here for two years. (=I started in April 2007 and still teach here now, probably I will continue after April 2009 but we are not sure) We often use this tense (instead of the present perfect continuous) because we like easy numbers. For example, imagine now it is March 2009. I started working in my job in April 2007. If you ask me: how long have you been working here?', I don't want to say '1 year and 11 months' because it's a bit long and complicated. I prefer to use the future perfect continuous so I can say 2 years, which is an easier number. So, instead of saying: I've been working here for 1 year and 11 months (using the present perfect continuous) I prefer: In April, I will have been working here for 2 years.