Future Perfect Continuous: Duration

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

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Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

By the time the CEO finally steps down next December, she (lead) this multinational corporation for over thirty-five years.

Correct answer: will have been leading

This expresses a continuous action (leading the company) that started in the past and will continue right up until a specific future point.

When the spacecraft eventually enters Jupiter’s atmosphere, the ground team in Houston (track) its telemetry for nearly six years.

Correct answer: will have been tracking

The focus is on the uninterrupted duration of the monitoring process leading up to the moment of atmospheric entry.

By their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary, my grandparents (reside) in this village for over half a century.

Correct answer: will have been residing

While “reside” can be seen as a state, the continuous form emphasizes the long, ongoing duration of their stay.

If the drought continues until August, the local farmers (pray) for significant rainfall for three consecutive months.

Correct answer: will have been praying

This highlights the repetitive and ongoing nature of the action (praying) over a specified period of time in the future.

By the end of the current fiscal quarter, the development team (debug) this complex legacy software for fourteen weeks straight.

Correct answer: will have been debugging

The use of “straight” emphasizes the continuous, unrelenting nature of the task over the fourteen-week duration.

When the marathon runner finally crosses the finish line, he (push) his physical limits for just under three hours.

Correct answer: will have been pushing

This describes an action in progress that reaches a culmination point at the moment he crosses the finish line.

By the time the peace treaty is signed, the two nations (negotiate) the details of the agreement for over a decade.

Correct answer: will have been negotiating

Negotiations are a long-term process; the future perfect continuous captures the extensive effort spent leading up to the signing.

When she finishes her residency next June, Dr. Aris (work) eighty-hour weeks for the better part of three years.

Correct answer: will have been working

This emphasizes the grueling, repetitive schedule (duration) that characterizes her medical training up to its completion.

By the time the solar eclipse occurs, the astronomers (calibrate) their instruments for several days to ensure total precision.

Correct answer: will have been calibrating

The continuous form is used here to show the preparation time spent on an active, technical task leading up to the event.

If the jury doesn't reach a verdict by Friday evening, they (deliberate) on this high-profile case for exactly seven days.

Correct answer: will have been deliberating

“Deliberate” is a process verb; the future perfect continuous focuses on the time spent in the jury room leading up to the Friday deadline.

By the time the museum finally unveils the restored masterpiece, the conservators (remove) layers of grime for eighteen months.

Correct answer: will have been removing

This highlights the painstaking, ongoing labor involved in the restoration process over the specified duration.

When the satellite completes its hundredth orbit, the sensors (transmit) climate data to the research center for nearly a month.

Correct answer: will have been transmitting

This describes a continuous, automated action that will have reached a certain duration at a specific milestone.

By the time the playwright sees her work on Broadway, she (rewrite) the second act for nearly two years to get the pacing right.

Correct answer: will have been rewriting

The continuous form emphasizes the iterative and ongoing nature of the creative process up until the premiere.

If they are still waiting for the test results when the clinic closes, they (sit) in that waiting room for over five hours.

Correct answer: will have been sitting

This emphasizes the duration of a specific, tedious physical state (sitting/waiting) leading up to the closing time.

By the end of his sabbatical, Professor Higgins (contemplate) the implications of string theory for six months straight.

Correct answer: will have been contemplating

Even though “contemplate” is a mental activity, the continuous form is used at a C1 level to emphasize the dedicated duration.

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