Tense

Tense

Definition: An aspect of verb which tells the time of an action is called tense. Tenses have certain rules, according to which a sentence is made.
There are mainly three kinds of tenses.

1.     Present tense

2.     Past tense

3.     Future tense

Each of present, past and future tense is further divided into four kinds.

1.     Simple (Indifinite)

2.     Continuous (progressive)

3.     Perfect 

4.     Perfect Continuous (Perfect progressive)

In this way, there are 12 kinds of tense, which are explained in detail as below

 Present Simple Tense

It is used to express an action in present time, habitual or usual actions or daily event or universal fact. It is used to express an action in present time which is usually done on a regular basis. For example a student says, “I go to school”. It is a daily activity of a student to go to school, so such actions are expressed by present simple tense. Another example is, “I work in a factory”. It tells about a usual action of a person that he works in a factory on regular basis.
Rules. 1st form of verb or base verb is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence – Rules

Positive Sentence
     • Subject + Main verb + Object
     • Subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + Object
Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular or proper noun” then “s” or “es” is added to the first form of verb or base form in the sentence.
Examples.
         I write a letter.
         He gets up early in the morning.
         Sun rises in east.
Negative Sentences
   • Subject + auxiliary verb +NOT + Main verb +object
   • Subject + Do not/Does not + 1st form of verb (or base form) + object
Examples.
         I do not write a letter.
         He does not get up early in the morning.
         Sun does not rise in east.
Note: In negative sentence auxiliary verb “do or does” along with “not” is used. If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular or proper noun”, then “Does not” is used after subject in sentence. If subject is “I, we, they, you or plural” then “Do not” is used after subject in sentence. “s” or “es” is not added to main verb in negative sentence
Interrogative Sentence
   • Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb + Object
   • Do/Does + Subject + 1st for of verb (or base verb) + Object
Examples.
         Do I write a letter?
         Does he get up early in the morning?
         Does sun rise in east?
Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular or proper noun” the sentence is started with Auxiliary verb “Does”. If the subject in a sentence is “I, we, they, you or plural” the sentence is started with auxiliary verb “Do”. “s” or “es” is not added to main verb in Interrogative sentence 

More Examples

Positive Sentences
          I sing a song.
          He drinks water
          They read lessons
          Birds chirp
          John reaches home in time.
          Water maintains its surface level.
Negative Sentences
          I do not sing a song
          He does not drink water
          They do not read lessons
          Birds do not chirp
          John does not reach home in time.
          Water does not maintain its surface level.
Interrogative Sentences
Do I sing a song?
Does he drink water?
Do they read lessons?
Do birds chirp?
Does John reach home in time?
Does water maintain its surface level?

Present Continuous Tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action at present time. It expresses an action which is in progress at the time of speaking. For example, a person says, “I am writing a letter”. It means that he is in the process of writing a letter right now. Such actions which are happening at time of speaking are expressed by present continuous tense. Present Continuous tense is also called Present progressive tense.
Rules. Auxiliary verb “am or is or are” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb + ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence

Positive Sentence
    • Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object
    • Subject + am/is/are + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
If the subject is “I” then auxiliary verb “am” is used after subject in sentence.
If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “is” is used after subject in sentence.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “are” is used after subject in sentence.
The participle “ing” is added to the 1st form of verb i.e. going (go) writing (write)

Examples
        I am playing cricket.
        He is driving a car
        They are reading their lessons.
Negative Sentence
      • Subject + auxiliary verb + not + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object
      • Subject + am/is/are + not + (1st form of verb + ing) + object
Rules for using auxiliary verbs (am or is or are) after subject in negative sentences are same as mentioned above.

Examples.
         I am not playing cricket.
         He is not driving a car
         They are not reading their lessons.
Interrogative Sentences
      • Auxiliary verb + Subject + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object
      • Am/is/are + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
For making interrogative sentences, the sentence is started with auxiliary verb rather than putting auxiliary verb inside the sentence. If the subject is “I” the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “am”. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “is”. If subject is “You, They or plural” the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “are”.
Examples.
          Am I playing cricket?
          Is he driving a car?
         Are they reading their lessons?

More Examples

Positive Sentences
           I am listening to the news
           You are washing your clothes
           She is riding on horse
           They are playing football.
           It is raining
Negative Sentence
          I am not listening to the news.
          You are not washing your clothes.
          She is not riding on a horse.
          They are not playing football.
          It is not raining.
Interrogative Sentences
         Am I listening to the news?
         Are you washing your clothes?
         Is she riding on a horse?
         Are they playing football?
         Is it raining?

Present Perfect Tense

It is used to expressed an action which happened or completed in past but usually the action which happened or completed at a short time before now (near past) not a very long time before now. Specific time such as two years ago, last week or that day is usually not used in the sentences of in this tense. It means that this tense expresses the action whose time when it happened, is not exactly specified but it sounds to refer to some action that happened or completed in near past.
Rules: Auxiliary verb “has or have” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb (past participle) is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of Sentence

Positive Sentence
         • Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + Subject
         • Subject + has/have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject
If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “has” is used after subject in sentence.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “have” is used after subject in sentence.

Examples
       I have eaten meal
       She has learnt a lesson
Negative Sentence
        • Subject + Auxiliary verb + NOT + main verb (past participle) + Subject
        • Subject + has/have + NOT + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject
Rules for using auxiliary verb “has or have” in negative sentence are same as mentioned above.

Examples
      I have not eaten meal.
      She has not learnt a lesson.
Interrogative Sentences
         • Auxiliary verb + Subject + main verb (past participle) + Subject
         • Has/have + Subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “has”.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “have”.

Examples
      Have I eaten meal?
      Has she learnt a lesson?

More Examples.

Positive Sentences
          They have gone to school.
          They have bought a new car.
          I have started a job
          It has rained.
          The guests have arrived
          John has left for home.
          You have told a lie.
Negative Sentences
        They have not gone to school.
        They have not bought a new car.
        I have not started a job
        It has not rained.
        The guests have not arrived.
        John has not left for home.
        You have not told a lie.
Negative Sentences                                                        
       Have they gone to school?
       Have they bought a new car?
       Have I started a job?
       Has it rained?
       Have the guests arrived?
       Has John left for home?
       Have you told a lie?

Present Perfect Continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that started in past and is continued until now. There will be a time reference, such as “since 1980, for three hours etc” from which the action has been started. A sense of time reference is found in these sentences which gives an idea that action has been continued from some time in past till now.  Such time reference or sense of time reference is the identity of Present perfect continuous tense because it tells that action has started from a particular time in past. For example, “He has been reading in this school since 2005”, so the it means that he has started his education in this school in 2005 and he is studying in this school till now.
Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference then it is not Present perfect continuous tense because there is no hint about the time of action when it started in past and it seems just an ongoing action at present time which resembles “present Continuous tense. So the reference of time differentiates between Present perfect continuous tense and Present continuous tense.
Rules: An auxiliary verb “has been or have been” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence. “Since” or “for” is used before the “time reference” in sentence. If the time reference is exactly known such as 1995, 4 O’clock then “since” is used before the time in sentence. If the time reference is not exactly known such as three hours, six years, four days, then “for” is used before the time in sentence. Time reference such as 3 hours or 5 days is not exactly known because we don’t know that about which three hours a day is told in sentence or about which 5 days in a month is told in sentence. While the 1995 is exactly known time.

Structure of sentence.

Positive Sentence.
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference
         
• Subject + has been/have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object +    time reference

If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “has been” is used after subject in sentence.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “have been” is used after subject in sentence.

Examples.
        He has been watering the plants for two hours.
        I have been studying since 3 O’clock
Negative Sentence.
• Subject +”Not” between the Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) +     Object + Time reference

• Subject + has not been/have not been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) +    object + time reference

To make negative sentence, the word “not” is written between the auxiliary verbs, so it becomes like “has not been or have not been”. The rule for using auxiliary verb “has been or have been” in negative sentences is as same as mentioned above.

Examples.
        He has not been watering the plants for two hours.
        I have not been studying since 3 O’clock.
Interrogative Sentence.
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object +    time reference

• Has/have + Subject + been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object + time    reference
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “has” and auxiliary verb “been” is used after subject
If subject is “You, They or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “have” and “been” is used after subject

Examples.
      Has he been watering the plants for two hours?
      Have I been studying since 3 O’clock?

More examples.

Positive sentences
           It has been raining for three days.
           I have been living in America since 2003.
           He has been playing cricket for two hours.
           They have been watching television since 6 O’clock.
           She has been working in this office since 2007.
Negative sentences
         It has not been raining for three days.
         I have not been living in America since 2003.
         He has not been playing cricket for two hours.
         They have not been watching television since 6 O’clock.
         She has not been working in this office since 2007.
Positive sentences
        Has it been raining for three days?
        Have I been living in America since 2003?
        Has he been playing cricket for two hours.
        Have they been watching television since 6 O’clock?
        Has she been working in this office since 2007?

Past Simple Tense

It is used to express an action that happened or completed in past, usually a very little time before speaking, or action which is just completed. Time of action is not specified in terms of long time ago or short ago but it make a sense that the action has done a little time ago. For example, a person says, “I watched a movie”, it means the speaker of this sentence watched a movie a little time ago or little time ago in the same day.

Rules:2nd form of verb (past simple) is used as main verb in the positive sentences and base form is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

Structure of sentences

Positive Sentence
      • Subject + main verb (past simple) + object
      • Subject + 2nd form of verb (past simple) + object

Examples
      I killed a snake
      He ate a mango.
Negative sentences
       • Subject + (auxiliary verb + not) main verb (base form) + object
       • Subject + did not + 1st form of verb or base form + object

In negative sentence “did not” is written and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is used instead of using 2nd form (or past simple verb).

Examples.
       I did not kill a snake
       He did not eat a mango
Interrogative sentences
     • Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (base verb) + object
     • Did + subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + object

Interrogative sentence starts with “did” and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is used instead of using 2nd form (or past simple verb).

Examples
     Did I kill a snake?
     Did he eat a mango?

More Examples

Negative sentences
        He gave me a gift
        They went to cinema.
        She wrote a letter to him.
        I made a table.
        You answered correctly.
Negative sentences
        He did not give me a gift
        They did not go to cinema.
        She did not write a letter to him.
        I did not make a table.
        You did not answer correctly.
Interrogative sentences
       Did he give me a gift?
       Did they go to cinema?
       Did she write a letter to him?
       Did I make a table?
       Did you answer correctly?

Past Continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action in past, an ongoing action which occurred in past and completed at some point in past. It expresses an ongoing nature of an action in past.  For example, “he was laughing.” This sentence shows ongoing action (laughing) of a person which occurred in past. Past continuous tense is also called past progressive. 
Rules: Auxiliary verb “was or were” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb + ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence

Positive sentences
          • Subject + auxiliary verb + Main Verb (present participle) + object
          • Subject + was/were + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object

If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or proper noun” then auxiliary verb “was” is used. If subject is “you, we, they or plural” then auxiliary verb “were” is used.
Examples.
              She was crying yesterday.
              They were climbing on a hill.
Negative sentences
         • Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + Main verb (present participle) + object
         • Subject + was/were + NOT + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object

Rules for using auxiliary verb after subject are same as mentioned above.
Examples.
             She was not crying yesterday.
             They were not climbing on a hill.
Interrogative sentences
         • Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb (present participle) + object
         • Was/were + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object

The interrogative sentence starts with the auxiliary verb. If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or proper noun” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “was”. If subject is “you, we, they or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “were”.
Examples.
             Was she crying yesterday?
             Were they climbing on a hill?

More Examples

Positive sentences
          They were laughing at the joker.
          He was taking exam last month
          You waiting for him yesterday
          She was working in a factory.
          It was raining yesterday.
Negative sentences
         They were not laughing at the joker.
         He was not taking exam last month
         You were not waiting for him yesterday
         She was not working in a factory.
         It was not raining yesterday.
Interrogative sentences
        Were they laughing at the joker?
        Was he taking exam last month?
        Were you waiting for him yesterday?
        Was she working in a factory?
        Was it raining yesterday?

Past perfect tense

It is used to express an action which has occurred in past (usually, a long time ago) and action which has occurred in past before another action in past.
For example,
I had lived in America. (The sense of time in this sentence refers to a completed action in past and especially a long time ago)
The students had gone before the teacher came.  (The first part of sentence “The student has gone” is sentence of past perfect tense, it says about an action which occurred before another action in past which is “the teacher came”. The second part “the teacher came” is sentence of past simple tense. So such a sentence which express an action in past before another action in past comprises two parts where the first part of sentence is past perfect tense)
Rules. Auxiliary verb “had” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb (past participle) is used as main verb in sentence

Structure of sentence.

Positive sentence
        • Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
        • Subject + had + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Examples.
      He had taken the exam last year
      A thief had stolen my watch.
Negative sentence
        • Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + main verb (past participle) + object
        •Subject + had + not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

   “Not” is written after auxiliary verb in negative sentence.
Examples.
       He had not taken the exam last year
       A thief had not stolen my watch.
Interrogative sentence
       • Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (past participle) + object
       • Had + subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

     Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “had”
Examples.
      Had he taken the exam last year
      Had a thief stolen my watch?

More Examples

Positive sentences
      They had visited a doctor.
       He had slept.
       I had finished my work last year.
       It had rained heavily last month.
      The film had started before we reached cinema.
Negative sentences
      They had not visited a doctor.
      He had not slept.
      I had not finished my work last year.
      It had not rained heavily last month.
      The film had not started before we reached cinema.
Interrogative sentences
      Had they visited a doctor?
      Had he slept?
      Had I finished my work last year?
      Had it rained heavily last month?
      Had the film started before we reached cinema.

Past Perfect continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that started in past and continued until sometime in past. (Remember, an ongoing action in past which continued till some time in past) There will be a time reference, such as “since 1980, for three hours etc” from which the action had started. A sense of time reference is found in these sentences which shows that action had started in past and continued till some time in past.  Such time reference or sense of reference is the identity of Present perfect continuous tense because it tells that action has started from a particular time in past or for some time period. For example, “He had been studying in this school since 2005”, so the it means that he had started his education in this school in 2005 and he studied in this school till sometime in past.
Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference, then it is not Past perfect continuous tense because there is no hint about the time of action when it started in past or continued for some time period, so it seems just an ongoing action in past which resembles “past Continuous tense”. So the reference of time differentiates between Past perfect continuous tense and past continuous tense.
Rules: An auxiliary verb “had been” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence. “Since” or “for” is used before the “time reference” in sentence. If the time reference is exactly known such as 1995, 4 O’clock then “since” is used before the time in sentence. If the time reference is not exactly known such as three hours, six years, four days, then “for” is used before the time in sentence. Time reference such as 3 hours or 5 days is not exactly known because we don’t know that about which three hours a day is told in sentence or about which 5 days in a month is told in sentence. While the 1995 is exactly known time.

Structure of sentence.

Positive Sentence.
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference

• Subject + had been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time    reference

Examples.
      I had been waiting for him for one hour.
      She had been playing chess since 7 O’clock.
Negative Sentence.
• Subject +”Not” between the Auxiliary verbs + main verb (present participle) +     Object + Time reference

• Subject + had not been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time    reference
To make negative sentence, the word “not” is added inside auxiliary verb, so it becomes “had not been”.
Examples.
        I had not been waiting for him for one hour.
        She had not been playing chess since 7 O’clock.
Interrogative Sentence.
• Auxiliary verb+ Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object +    time reference

• Had + Subject +  been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object + time    reference

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “had” and auxiliary verb “been” is used after subject in sentence.
Examples.
        Had I been waiting for him for one hour?
        Had she been playing chess 7 O’clock?

More examples.

Positive sentences
         I had been living in America since 2003.
         He had been playing cricket for two hours.
         They had been watching television since 6 O’clock.
         She had been working in this office since 2007.
         It had been raining for three days.
Negative sentences
        I had not been living in America since 2003.
        He had not been playing cricket for two hours.
        They had not been watching television since 6 O’clock.
        She had not been working in this office since 2007.
        It had not been raining for three days.
Positive sentences
        Had I been living in America since 2003?
        Had he been playing cricket for two hours.
        Had they been watching television since 6 O’clock?
        Had she been working in this office since 2007?
        Had it been raining for three days?

Future simple tense

It is used to express an action which has not occurred yet and will occur after saying or in future. For example, “I will go to zoo tomorrow”, in this sentence the person intend for tomorrow’s visit to zoo. In short, these sentences express actions which will be done in future.
Rules. Auxiliary verb “will” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base form is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence

Positive sentence
       • Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object
       •Subject + will + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object

Examples.
       I will buy a computer tomorrow.
       They will come here.

Negative sentence
      • Subject + auxiliary verb+ not + main verb (present participle) + object
      • Subject + will +not + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object
  
     To make negative sentence “not” is written after auxiliary verb in sentence.
Examples.
       I will not buy a computer tomorrow.
       They will not come here.
Interrogative sentence
      • Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (present participle) + object
      • Will + subject + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will”
Examples.
      Will I buy a computer tomorrow?
      Will they come here?

More Examples

Positive sentences
           He will start a business.
           She will send me a letter.
           I will give you a pen tomorrow
           Students will take exams at the end of semester.
           They will buy a new car.
           The Pattern of exam will change next year.
Negative sentences
          He will not start a business.
          She will not send me a letter.
          I will not give you a pen tomorrow
          Students will not take exams at the end of semester.
          They will not buy a new car.
          The pattern of exam will not change next year.
Interrogative sentences
         Will he start a business?
         Will she send me a letter?
         Will I give you a pen tomorrow?
         Will students take exams at the end of semester?
         Will they buy a new car?
         Will the Pattern of exam change next year?

 Future Continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or an ongoing action in future. For example, “I will be waiting for you tomorrow”, it conveys ongoing nature of an action (waiting) which will occur in future.
Rules. Auxiliary verb “will be” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb + ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence

Positive sentence
   • Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object
   • Subject + will be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object

Examples.
       I will be waiting for you.
       You will be feeling well tomorrow.
Negative sentence
          • Subject + not between auxiliary verbs+ not + main verb (present participle)              + object
          • Subject + will not be + 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle)              + object

To make negative sentence “not” is written between auxiliary verbs “will and be” in sentence.

Examples.
       I will not be waiting for you.
       You will not be feeling well tomorrow.
Interrogative sentence
• Auxiliary verb + subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object
• Will + subject + be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will” and auxiliary verb “be” comes after subject in interrogative sentence
Examples.
      Will I be waiting for you?
      Will you be feeling well tomorrow?

More Examples

Positive sentences
            We will be shifting to a new home next year.
            He will be flying a kite.
            It will be raining tomorrow.
            She will be enjoying her vacations.
            He will be expecting honesty from his employees.
            She will be delivering a speech to people.
Negative sentences
           We will not be shifting to a new home next year.
           He will not be flying a kite.
           It will not be raining tomorrow.
           She will not be enjoying her vacations.
           He will not be expecting honesty from his employees.
           She will not be delivering a speech to people.
Interrogative sentence
          Will we be shifting to a new home next year?
          Will he be flying a kite?
          Will it be raining tomorrow?
          Will she be enjoying her vacations?
          Will he be expecting honesty from his employees?
          Will she be delivering a speech to people?

Future Perfect tense

It is used to express an action which will occur in future and is thought to be completed in future. It expresses a sense of completion of an action which will occur in future. For example, “John will have gone tomorrow”. It shows a sense of completion of an action (go) which will occur in future (tomorrow).
Rules. Auxiliary verb “will have” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb or past participle form of verb is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence

Positive sentence
       • Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
       • Subject + will have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Examples
        She will have finished the work by Wednesday.
        I will have left for home by the time he gets up.
        You will have started a job.

Negative sentence
      • Subject + Not between auxiliary verbs + main verb (past participle) + object
      • Subject + will not have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Examples
       She will have finished the work by Wednesday.
       I will have left for home by the time he gets up.
       You will not have started a job.
Interrogative sentence
    • Auxiliary verb + Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
    • Will + Subject +have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Examples
Will she have finished the work by Wednesday?
Will I have left for home by the time he gets up?
Will you have started a job?

More Examples

Positive sentences
          He will have finished his work.
          You will have made a new chair.
          She will have decorated her home.
          I will have bought a computer.
          They will have shifted to a new home.
          Students will have passed the examination.
Negative sentences
        He will not have finished his work.
        You will not have made a new chair.
        She will not have decorated her home.
        I will not have bought a computer.
        They will not have shifted to a new home.
        Students will not have passed the examination.
Interrogative sentences
       Will he have finished his work?
       Will you have made a new chair?
       Will she have decorated her home?
       Will I have bought a computer?
       Will they have shifted to a new home?
       Will students have passed the examination?

Future Perfect Continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that will start in future and is thought to be continued till sometime in future. (Remember, an ongoing action in future which will continue till some time in future). There will be a time reference, such as “since 1980, for three hours” from which the action will start in future and will continue. A sense of time reference is found which gives an idea that action will start at some time in future and will continue for some time.  Such time reference or sense of time reference is the identity of Future perfect continuous tense because it tells that action will start at a particular time in future. For example, “He will have been studying in this school since 2005”, so the it means that he will start studying in this school in 2005 and will study in this school till sometime in future.
Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference then it is not future perfect continuous tense because there is no hint about the time of action when it will start in future and it seems just an ongoing action in future which resembles “future Continuous tense. So the reference of time differentiates between Future perfect continuous tense between future continuous tense.
Rules: An auxiliary verb “will have been” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence. “Since” or “for” is used before the “time reference” in sentence. If the time reference is exactly known such as 1995, 4 O’clock then “since” is used before the time in sentence. If the time reference is not exactly known such as three hours, six years, four days, then “for” is used before the time in sentence. Time reference such as 3 hours or 5 days is not exactly known because we don’t know that about which three hours a day is told in sentence or about which 5 days in a month is told in sentence. While the 1995 is exactly know time.

Structure of sentence.

Positive Sentence.
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference

•Subject + will have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time reference

Examples.
         I will have been waiting for him for one hour.
         She will have been playing football since 2015.
Negative Sentence.
• Subject +”Not” inside Auxiliary verbs + main verb (present participle) + Object +    Time reference

• Subject + will not have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object +    Time reference
To make negative sentence, the word “not” is added inside auxiliary verb, so it becomes “will not have been”.

Examples.
         I will not have been waiting for him for one hour.
         She will not have been playing football since 2015.
Interrogative Sentence.
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object +    time reference

• Will + Subject + have been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object + time    reference
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will” and auxiliary verb “have been” is used after subject in sentence.

Examples.
        Will I have been waiting for him for one hour?
        Will she have been playing football since 2015?

More examples.

Positive sentences
           I will have been living in America since 2003.
           He will have been playing cricket for two hours.
           They will have been watching television since 6 O’clock.
           She will been working in this office since 2007.
           It will have been raining for three days.
Negative sentences
          I will not have been living in America since 2003.
          He will not have been playing cricket for two hours.
          They will not have been watching television since 6 O’clock?
          She will have been working in this office since 2007.
          It will not have been raining for three days.
Positive sentences
         Will I have been living in America since 2003?
         Will he have been playing cricket for two hours.
         Will they have been watching television since 6 O’clock?
         Will she have been working in this office since 2007?
         Will it have been raining for three days?