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Question

Difficulty: EasyVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct form of the verb in brackets to express the appropriate future aspect.

Answer:By the time the choir finishes performing tonight, they 【will have been singing】 for three consecutive hours.

Answer

will have been singing (or will have sung)
The time expression 'By the time...' introduces a future temporal marker, which requires the future perfect or future perfect continuous tense ('will have been singing' or 'will have sung') to show that the action of singing spans a duration leading up to that point.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the time expression 'By the time' combined with the present simple verb 'finishes'.
This structure establishes a reference point in the future.
When an action occurs over a period of time up to a specific future point, the future perfect aspect (simple or continuous) is required.
2
Determine the appropriate auxiliary verb combination for the duration 'for three consecutive hours'.
The auxiliary verb construction 'will have been' followed by the present participle 'singing' (or 'will have' followed by the past participle 'sung') correctly conveys the continuous duration up to that future moment.
Using simple present or present progressive forms fails to indicate the cumulative duration prior to the future deadline.

Key Concept

Future Perfect Aspect
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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