Predicting destiny may seem impossible, but with grammar, you can take a leap forward and describe events precisely. This is where the Future Perfect Continuous tense comes into play. Let’s find out more about it!
What Is Future Perfect Continuous Tense?
On certain occasions, you may be expected to describe future projections or expectations, and at times, you’ll need to clarify the duration to make your explanation more convincing. Thus, the Future Perfect Continuous Tense.
By using this tense, you can add clarity to time-sensitive scenarios, accentuating the period of an action up to a specific projected time.
For example:
“Chico will have been doing yoga for 7 years by the end of 2025.”
From that example, you can understand the duration of Chico’s yoga practice up to that specific point in time.
As you can see, the formula for the Future Perfect Continuous tense is quite straightforward. It typically follows this structure:
|
Subject + will have been + verb-ing + [time marker] |
To illustrate the concept more clearly, let’s take a look at these examples:
- When the clock strikes midnight, Julie will have been observing the comet’s trajectory for 7 hours.
- By the next winter, Belle’s mother will have been fermenting this batch of kimchi for a year.
- In eight months, Skylar will have been decoding ancient manuscripts for over a decade.
Time Markers for Future Perfect Continuous Tense
When it comes to time markers, there are several types for different purposes, such as:
|
Purpose |
Time Marker |
|
Emphasizing a Deadline (point in time) |
By the time, At, Before |
|
Indicating Duration |
Throughout, Over, Since, For |
|
Time-related Conditional Expressions |
When, While, Until |
|
Providing Specific Dates or Times |
By, At |
Common Blunders to Avoid
The Future Perfect Continuous can be challenging to use. Here are a few typical pitfalls learners tend to make:
1. Skipping the Time Marker
One key part of the Future Perfect Continuous tense is the time marker. Without it, sentences can sound incomplete or unclear. Here’s an example:
Incorrect: “Ajeng will have been painting.”
- This sentence feels vague and lacks the necessary context.
Correct: “By the end of the term, Ajeng will have been painting murals for local schools for six months.”
- Now, the sentence indicates the duration and timeframe in which the action will be completed.
2. Confusing In-between Tenses
It’s easy to confuse the Future Continuous tense with other tenses. However, by focusing on the timeline of the action, you can distinguish them more easily. Let’s break it down:
Future Perfect Continuous vs Future Continuous
The Future Continuous tense highlights actions that have not yet started but will happen in the future. For example:
- At noon tomorrow, Emilio will be examining ancient specimens at the city’s botanical garden.
- Next year, Zahra will be undergoing rigorous training for her expedition to Mount Rinjani.
Future Perfect Continuous vs Future Perfect
The Future Perfect tense indicates that the action will be concluded by or before a particular time without highlighting its duration. For example:
- By the age of 30, Kazuo will have written 100 articles on Economics.
- Hana will have built the first yoga studio in her town by next month.
The key distinction lies in using “will have,” accompanied by past participles, which signify a concluded action.
Understanding Tenses = Understanding Ideas
Mastering English tenses will help you express and process ideas more clearly despite their complexity.
In particular, the Future Perfect Continuous tense can help accurately describe duration and time while adding dramatic impact to sentences. This is especially beneficial for various writing mediums, such as essays, reports, and even creative writing.
If you’re eager to learn more, Fun English Course is here to help! With our skillful tutors and easy-to-follow curriculum, we’ll show you that learning the Future Perfect Continuous and other tenses can be fun and easy. Call us now to take the next step in your English journey!