Identification: when the work is going on but began in the past and there is indication of time. The time of the sentence is present.
1. I have been doing this work for 2 hours.
2. My friends have been coming to my house for weeks.
Helping verbs used: has been, have been
Affirmative: use of has been with he, she, it and singular noun; use of have been with plural noun, you and I:
1. I have been doing my work for many years.
2. She has been teaching in this school for many years.
Negative: use of has not been, have not been
1. I have not been doing my work since my injury.
2. She has not been teaching here since her marriage.
Interrogative: use of has or have at the beginning of the sentence
1. Have you been going to school for the last 2 months?
2. Has he been drinking coffee since the doctor advised him against it?
Identification: when the work will be going on and there is indication of time. The time of the sentence is future.
1. I shall have been doing this work since morning.
2. He will have been studying for his examinations.
Helping verbs used: shall have been, will have been
Affirmative: use of shall has been with I and we; use of will have been with plural noun, you and I:
1. I shall have been doing my work after reaching home.
2. She will have been teaching in the school after coming back from vacations.
Negative: use of shall have not been, will have not been
1. I shall have not been doing my work due to my injury.
2. She will have not been teaching here before September.
Interrogative: use of shall or will at the beginning of the sentence
1. Will you have been going to school before your father joins you?
2. Shall we have been working on this project before our manager orders us?
Identification: when the work is not completed but will be completed in future. The difference between future perfect and future continuous is that in future continuous, there is no surety about work being completed. It will be done—but in future perfect, it will be completed by the subject. In the future, the subject will be able to relate it through present perfect—I have. The time of the sentence is past.
1. I shall have gone to work at 9 A. M.
2. My mother will have given me tea before I sleep.
3. My friends will have come to my home by then.
Helping verbs used: will have, shall have
Affirmative: use of will have, shall have
1. I shall have done my work.
2. She will have gotten ready for the school.
Negative: use of will have not and shall have not
1. I shall have not done my work.
2. She will have not gotten ready for the school.
Interrogative: use of will have and shall have at the beginning of the sentence
1. Will you have gone to school?
2. Will he have worked on these projects?
Identification: when the work is not going on but began in the past and there is indication of time. The time of the sentence is past.
1. I had been doing this work for 2 hours.
2. My friends had been coming to my house for weeks.
Helping verbs used: had been
Affirmative: use of had been
1. I had been doing my work for many years.
Negative: use of had not been
1. I had not been doing my work since my injury, but now I am doing it.
Interrogative: use of had at the beginning of the sentence
Had you been going to school before you came here?
Identification: when the work is pending and will be done. The time of the sentence is future.
1. I shall be doing my work.
2. My mother will be giving me tea.
3. You will be coming to my home.
Helping verbs used: will be, shall be
Affirmative: use of shall be with I and We; use of will be with plural and you (plural).
1. I shall be doing my work.
2. She will be getting ready for the school.
3. They will be drinking tea not milk.
Negative: use of will not be, shall not be
1. I shall not be doing my work.
2. She will not be getting ready for the school.
3. They will not be drinking tea but milk.
Interrogative: use of will and shall at the beginning of the sentence followed by subject and then be
1. Will you be going to school?
2. Will he be working in his office?
3. Shall I be speaking there too?
