Future Perfect & Future Perfect Continuous
These tenses are used to talk about actions that will be completed or will be in progress by a specific time in the future.
Future Perfect
will + have + past participle
Focuses on the completion of an action by a future time.
Future Perfect Continuous
will + have been + verb-ing
Focuses on the duration of an action up to a future time.
Structure
will + have + past participle
By next month, I will have completed the project.
When to Use Future Perfect
Actions Completed Before a Future Time
By 2030, I will have graduated from university.
(Graduation will be complete before or by 2030)
Duration Completed by a Future Time
By next week, she will have worked here for ten years.
(The 10-year period will be complete)
Common Time Markers
Structure
will + have been + verb-ing
By December, I will have been studying English for five years.
When to Use Future Perfect Continuous
Ongoing Actions Up to a Future Time
By the time she arrives, I will have been waiting for two hours.
(Emphasizes the duration of the waiting)
Actions with Future Results
I will have been exercising consistently for a year by June, so I’ll be much fitter.
(Shows ongoing action with a result)
Common Time Expressions
| Aspect | Future Perfect | Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Completion by a future time | Duration up to a future time |
| Structure | will have + past participle | will have been + verb-ing |
| Emphasis | The result or accomplishment | The process or ongoing activity |
| Example | By 2025, I will have visited 20 countries. | By 2025, I will have been traveling for 5 years. |
Same Situation, Different Emphasis
By December, I will have taught 1000 students.
(Emphasizes the completed count – result)
By December, I will have been teaching for 10 years.
(Emphasizes the ongoing duration)
By next month, they will have built three new stores.
(Focuses on completed construction)
By next month, they will have been building the new store for a year.
(Focuses on the ongoing process)
State Verbs
Some verbs typically aren’t used in continuous forms:
Correct: By next year, I will have known her for ten years.
Not typical: By next year, I will have been knowing her for ten years.
Common Mistakes
By next week, I will completed the project.
✓ By next week, I will have completed the project.
(Missing “have”)
By December, she will have been work here for 5 years.
✓ By December, she will have been working here for 5 years.
(Need -ing form after “been”)
Choose the correct form:
- By this time next year, I ________ (will have graduated / will have been graduating) from university.
- By the time you arrive, I ________ (will have waited / will have been waiting) for three hours.
- By 2030, humans ________ (will have visited / will have been visiting) Mars.
- By next month, they ________ (will have renovated / will have been renovating) the house for a year.
- In December, we ________ (will have lived / will have been living) in this city for 20 years.
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Complete the sentences:
Use the Future Perfect or Future Perfect Continuous:
- By the end of this course, you ________ (learn) all the major English tenses.
- This time next year, I ________ (work) on my novel for two years.
- By 2030, scientists ________ (discover) a cure for many cancers.
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