Future perfect continuous


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

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


Practice

.
1)
By the time we move house at the end of the month, we    for several weeks. (pack)

 
2)
My parents    their new house this weekend. (decorate)

 
3)
If I can pass my exams, I    my time. (not waste)

 
4)
When you get home, for how long    you    ? (travel)

 

Further practice

Complete the sentences to form the future perfect continuous with the correct answer from a, b, c or d:
.
1)
If it’s still raining tomorrow, it ____ all week.
 

 

2)
When Sara leaves London at the end of the year, she ____ in the city for ten years.
 

 

3)
David ____ his flight to be delayed.
 

 

4)
For how long ____ next week’s event?
 

 

5)
Emma ____ the film because she prefers comedies.
 

 

6)
For how long ____ the company when her contract finishes next year?
 

 


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