As a teacher, you know that teaching English grammar can be quite a challenge. But with the proper knowledge and resources, it doesn’t have to be! A great place to start is to understand the basic tenses of the English language: past, present and future. Today we will focus on a critical part of the future tense – the Future Perfect Continuous tense.
By understanding this advanced form of expression, you can better help your students grasp its usage in their conversations and compositions. We’ll talk about what precisely this verb construction means and look at some examples so you can gain an even deeper insight into how it’s used. So let’s explore this valuable tool now!
What is the Future Perfect Continuous Tense?
The future perfect continuous tense (also known as the future perfect progressive tense) is a verb tense used to describe a continuous action that will happen at a specific point. This tense is formed using the auxiliary verb “will have been” followed by the verb’s present participle (ending with -ing).
For example: “By this time next year, I will have been studying Spanish for three years.”
In this sentence, “will have been studying” is the future perfect continuous tense, indicating that the action of studying Spanish will be ongoing and continuous for a specific length of time (three years) up until a particular point in the future (this time next year).
When Should The Future Perfect Continuous Tense Be Used?
The future perfect continuous tense is often used to describe an action or situation that will continue until a specific point. This tense is commonly used in academic or business writing, as well as in formal settings.
Some everyday situations where the future perfect continuous tense may be used include:
- To describe an ongoing action that will be completed at a specific point in the future: “By the time he graduates, he will have been playing the guitar for ten years.”
- To discuss plans or goals that are ongoing and continuous: “We will have been saving money for our trip for six months by the time we leave.”
- To speculate about future actions or events: “In a year, we will have been living in this house for a decade.”
By using the future perfect continuous tense, writers can communicate a sense of continuity and ongoing action that will continue until a specific point.
The Difference Between The Future Perfect Continuous and Other Tenses
The future perfect continuous tense is similar to other tenses, such as the future continuous and future perfect tenses, but there are some key differences.
Future Continuous vs Future Perfect Continuous
The future continuous tense describes an action that will be ongoing at a specific time. However, unlike the future perfect continuous tense, it does not indicate how long the action will continue.
For example: “I will be studying Spanish at 10 pm tonight.”
In contrast, with the future perfect continuous tense: “I will have been studying Spanish for three hours by 10 pm tonight.”
This indicates that studying Spanish will be ongoing for a specific period until 10 pm.
Future Perfect vs Future Perfect Continuous
The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed at a specific time. Unlike the future perfect continuous tense, it does not indicate that the action will continue until that point.
For example: “I will have studied Spanish for three years by the time I graduate.”
In contrast, the future perfect continuous tense: “I will have been studying Spanish for three years by the time I graduate.”
This indicates that the action of studying Spanish will continue up to the point of graduation.
In summary, while the future perfect tense and future continuous tense focus on a single point in time in the future, the future perfect continuous tense describes an ongoing and continuous action up until a specific point in the future.
The 12 Tenses in the English Language
The English language has 12 different tenses. These tenses indicate when something happened, whether it is happening now or when something will happen. Each tense has its structure and can be used for different purposes.
Simple Present
This tense describes actions that happen regularly or are true in general.
Example: “I walk to the bus stop every morning.”
Present Continuous
This tense describes actions that are happening right now or at the present moment.
Example: “I am walking to the bus stop right now.”
Present Perfect
This tense is used to describe a past action with a present result or an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.
Example: “I have walked to the bus stop every day this week.”
Present Perfect Continuous
This tense describes an ongoing and continuous action that started in the past and continues up to the present.
Example: “I have been walking to the bus stop for 10 minutes.”
Simple Past
This tense is used to describe an action that happened in the past and is now complete.
Example: “I walked to the bus stop yesterday.”
Past Continuous
This tense is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past.
Example: “I was walking to the bus stop when it started raining.”
Past Perfect
This tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.
Example: “I had walked to the bus stop before it started raining.”
Past Perfect Continuous
This tense describes an ongoing and continuous action completed before another action in the past.
Example: “I had been walking to the bus stop for 10 minutes before it started raining.”
Simple Future
This tense describes an action that will happen in the future.
Example: “I will walk to the bus stop tomorrow.”
Future Continuous
This tense describes an ongoing and continuous action that will happen in the future.
Example: “I will be walking to the bus stop at 8 am tomorrow.”
Future Perfect
This tense describes an action that will be completed at a specific point.
Example: “I will have walked to the bus stop by 8 am tomorrow.”
Future Perfect Continuous
This tense describes an ongoing and continuous action that will continue until a specific point in the future.
Example: “I will have been walking to the bus stop for 10 minutes by 8 am tomorrow.”
In summary, each tense in the English language is used to describe different actions or events that occur at specific times or over a particular period.
Teaching Opportunities from the Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous tense can be an excellent opportunity for teaching and learning. Here are some teaching opportunities that can arise from looking at the future perfect continuous tense:
Verb Tense Review
Learning the future perfect continuous tense requires an understanding of verb tense structures. Teachers can use this opportunity to review the different tenses, structures, and uses.
Time Expressions
The future perfect continuous tense is often used with time expressions to indicate the duration of action. Teachers can help students learn expected time expressions, such as “by the time,” “for,” and “since,” and how they are used in the future perfect continuous tense.
Contextualisation
The future perfect continuous tense is often used in academic or business writing and formal settings. Teachers can help students identify appropriate situations where the future perfect continuous tense should be used and how it differs from other tenses.
Vocabulary and Language Function
Teachers can also use the future perfect continuous tense to teach vocabulary and language functions. For example, discussing a long-term plan or goal using the future perfect continuous tense can require specialised vocabulary and expressions, which can be used to teach and reinforce language skills.
Practice and Application
Finally, teachers can provide opportunities for students to practice using the future perfect continuous tense through various activities, such as role-playing or writing exercises. This can help students learn to use the tense effectively and confidently in real-world situations.
Lesson Plans
Here are two lesson plans that can be used to teach the future perfect continuous tense based on the opportunities identified earlier:
Lesson Plan 1: Future Perfect Continuous Tense Grammar Review
Objective: Students will review the future perfect continuous tense and practice using it in different contexts.
Materials:
- Whiteboard/markers
- Future perfect continuous tense worksheet
- Writing prompts
Procedure:
- Begin by reviewing the structure of the future perfect continuous tense on the whiteboard. Provide examples and have students help fill in the blanks.
- Next, have students complete an interactive worksheet to identify different tenses.
- Afterwards, provide writing prompts for students to write sentences using the future perfect continuous tense.
- Once completed, have a round table discussion where students share their writing.
Lesson Plan 2: Future Perfect Continuous Tense Applications
Objective: Students will explore the different contexts and real-world applications of future perfect continuous tense.
Materials:
- Whiteboard/markers
- Magazine/Newspaper clips
- Role-playing exercises
Procedure:
- Begin by identifying real-life contexts where the future perfect continuous tense is used, such as in business or academic writing. Discuss how the tense is used in these contexts.
- Using magazine/newspaper clips, help students identify examples of future perfect continuous tense used in real-world contexts.
- For role-playing exercises, give the students a scenario where they need to use the future perfect continuous tense. For instance, a student will describe a lengthy planning process or how long they have been pursuing a hobby to a friend using the tense.
- After completing a role-playing exercise, hold a discussion where each student will share their experience and assess how well they used the tense.
In conclusion, these lesson plans provide various opportunities and resources for teaching and practising the future perfect continuous tense with students.
