Difference Between Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous

Future Perfect vs Future Perfect Continuous

As they are two different tenses, it is important to understand the difference between Future perfect and Future perfect continuous, if you are to master English language. Future perfect and future perfect continuous are two types of tenses that belong to the period of future. They have to be understood with precision so that they can be used and employed correctly in written and spoken English. This article attempts to guide you to understand the differences and use them correctly by explaining the meanings of both tenses with the help of examples and highlighting the difference between future perfect and future perfect continuous tense.

What is Future Perfect?

Future perfect tense is used to describe events that would have or will have taken place under certain conditions. Look at the sentences,

1. Francis would have achieved the status, had he been a little punctual.

2. Julie would have made it if she had attended the classes regularly.

In both the sentences, you can see that the forms would have achieved and would have made indicate the possibilities or events that would have or will have taken place or happened under certain conditions. From the first sentence, you can understand that had Francis been little punctual then he would have achieved the status. From the second sentence, you can understand that had Julie attended the classes regularly then Julie would have made it. This is an important observation to make in the study of the future perfect tense.

What is Future Perfect Continuous?

On the other hand, the future perfect continuous tense is used to indicate an event that might be taking place by now under certain conditions. This is the main difference between future perfect and future perfect continuous tenses. Observe the two sentences given below,

1. Robert would have been a professor by now.

2. Angela would have been singing for movies by now.

In both of these sentences, you can find that the forms would have been a professor and would have been singing are used to indicate possibilities or events that might be taking place by now under certain conditions.

What is the difference between Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous?

Both future perfect and future perfect continuous are tenses in the English language that falls under future period. The actions these tenses describe, therefore, indicate or are somehow connected to the future.

• Future perfect tense is used to describe events that would have or will have taken place under certain conditions. When one use this tense, as is shown in the examples, it is to say that a certain result could be obtained had the doer behaved accordingly.

• Future perfect continuous tense is used to indicate an event that might be taking place by now under certain conditions. Here, also the involvement of a condition is present. However, unlike future perfect tense which is completely based in the future, future continuous tense has connection with the present too. This is clearly shown by the examples given above.

• After considering all of these facts, one can come to the conclusion that the difference between future perfect and future perfect continuous tenses occur in the time factor. Future perfect is only concerned with the future while future perfect continuous has a link to the present as well.