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Future Perfect Continuous and Future Continuous Difference

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 6:56 am
by Dhanu
Could someone of you please explain me the difference of the following 2 sentences.

I will have been looking after dogs in the shelter the whole day.


I will be looking after dogs in the shelter the whole day.

Re: Future Perfect Continuous and Future Continuous Difference

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 1:41 pm
by Cafetalk
Your question hits at one of the more confusing issues for my non-native students. Perhaps the best way I can explain this is to slightly modify your first sentence:

" BY 6:00 PM THIS EVENING, I will have been looking after dogs in the shelter the whole day."

This is obviously a future tense verb ("will"). However, the aspect of the verb (perfect continuous - "have been looking") indicates that the continuous action "looking" will be completed (PERFECT - "have been") at a certain future time.

On the other hand. "I will be looking after dogs in the shelter the whole day" only indicates your future plans without specifying when (at what time in the future) you will complete "looking after dogs."

Re: Future Perfect Continuous and Future Continuous Difference

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:43 pm
by Dhanu
Thanks for the answer. Now I'm understanding it more clearly.