Introduction

We use the future perfect continuous to describe a continuous action that is already in progress at a point in the future.

We often use it with "for" to state the amount of time between when the action started and a point in its progress in the future or the point when we expect the action to finish.

We can also use it to describe a continuous action that we believe or predict is currently in progress.

Examples

• "At the end of December, James will have been working at the company for a year."
  
  
   
• "By the time my sister arrives at the airport, I will have been waiting for over three hours."
  
  
   
• "Sarah won't have been reading her emails because she’s on holiday."
  
  

Form

We form the future perfect continuous with "will have been" + "-ing" form of the main verb.

positive	I You We They He / She / It	will have been	waiting	for 3 hours.
negative		won't have been will not have been

question

Will

I you we they he / she / it

have been

waiting

for 3 hours?

We often use the future perfect continuous with future events or times and with expressions that refer to the future like "when" or "by the time (something happens)" and "for how long".

Examples

• "I will have been reading this book for months by the time I finally finish it."
   
• "She won’t have been expecting you to arrive so early."
   
• "When you finish your exams, for how long will you have been studying English?"

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Practice

• By the time we move house at the end of the month, we for several weeks. (pack)
   
• My parents their new house this weekend. (decorate)
   
• If I can pass my exams, I my time. (not waste)
   
• When you get home, for how long you ? (travel)
   

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Further practice

Complete the sentences to form the future perfect continuous with the correct answer from a, b, c or d:

• If it’s still raining tomorrow, it ____ all week.


will has been raining have been raining will have been raining will have raining



• When Sara leaves London at the end of the year, she ____ in the city for ten years.


will has been living will have been living will have been live have will been living



• David ____ his flight to be delayed.


won’t have been expecting will haven’t been expecting will have not been expecting won’t had been expecting



• For how long ____ next week’s event?


you will have been planning will you has been plan will have you been planning will you have been planning



• Emma ____ the film because she prefers comedies.


not has been enjoying will haven’t been enjoying won’t have been enjoying not will have been enjoying 



• For how long ____ the company when her contract finishes next year?


Clare will have been advising will have Clare been advising will Clare has been advising will Clare have been advising

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