Future Perfect
The future perfect tense is used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific time or event in the future. It emphasizes the completion of the action rather than the action itself.
Table of Contents
1.Structures
1.1Structures of Sentences / Regular Verbs
To form the future perfect tense, follow these basic rules:
S = Subject
won't = will not
QW = question word
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + | S + will + have + Verb(+ed / d)... | I will have finished the project by tomorrow. |
| - | S + won't + have + Verb(+ed / d)... | They won't have arrived by noon. |
| ? | (QW) + will + S + have + Verb(+ed / d)...? | Will she have finished everything by then? |
Practice Examples
(you/finish) _____ the project by the deadline?
(they/complete) _____ their training before the event starts?
(we/arrive) _____ at the airport by the time the flight boards?
1.2Structures of Sentences / Irregular Verbs
To form the future perfect tense, follow these basic rules:
S = Subject
won't = will not
(III) = the past participle form of the main verb → Irregular Verbs List (3d column)
QW = question word
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + | S + will + have + Verb(III) + ... | I will have done it tomorrow. |
| - | S + won't + have + Verb(III) + ... | They won't have left by noon. |
| ? | (QW) + will + S + have + Verb(III) + ...? | Will she have done everything by then? |
Practice Examples
(she/leave) _____ the office when you get there?
I (not/speak) _____ to the manager by the time the meeting starts.
By tomorrow, she (not/write) _____ the report.
2.Use
2.1Completion before a Deadline
We often use the future perfect to show that an action will already be completed or achieved by a certain time in the future. It is used for an action which at a given future time will be in the past. Quite frequently it is used with a time expression beginning with by: by then, by that time, by the 24th of September etc.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| By the end of this year, she will have worked here for five years. | This means that at the end of this year, her total time working here will be five years. |
| I will have retired by the year 2030. | That means that before or in the year 2030, my retirement will already be in. |
| By next Christmas we'll have been here for eight years. | This means that next Christmas marks a total of eight years since we arrived. |
| The builders say they'll have finished the roof by Tuesday. | This means that the roof will be complete before Tuesday. |
Practice Examples
By then, I (complete) _____ my master's degree. (Focus on the completion of action by a certain time in the future)
By the 24th of September, they (live) _____ in this city for over 10 years. (Focus on the completion of action by a certain time in the future)
By the end of this week, we (submit) _____ the report. (Focus on the completion of action by a certain time in the future)
2.2Expressing Certainty / Predicting Past Actions in the Future
The future perfect can be used to express certainty about actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future, essentially predicting past actions from a future perspective.
It is used to show that an action will probably be in the past at a given future time, often expressing certainty about that completion.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| By the time we get there, they will have probably left. | Certainty that the action of leaving will likely be completed before we arrive, from a future perspective. |
| I save 50 dollars a month, and I started in January. So by the end of the year, I will have saved 600 dollars. | Prediction that, based on a consistent saving pattern, the total amount of 600 dollars will be accumulated by the end of the year. |
| By next summer, I will have probably traveled to five countries. | Prediction that, based on plans, the action of traveling to five countries will most likely be completed by next summer. |
| Sure thing, they will have finished their meal before the movie starts. | Certainty that the action of finishing the meal will be completed before the movie begins, viewed from a future perspective. |
| He will have certainly left by the time we arrive. | Certainty that the action of leaving will be completed before we arrive, as seen from a future point. |
Practice Examples
I expect I (finish) _____ all my work by 5 PM. (Focus on the completion of action before a specific time in the future.)
They (leave) _____ the office by the time I arrive. (Focus on the completion of action before a specific time in the future.)
By the time you read this, I (leave) _____ for my trip. (Focus on the completion of action before a specific time in the future.)
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