Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. In this lesson, we learn its definition, how to form it using "will have" + past participle, and its various uses, such as expressing completed actions before deadlines. We also explore common time expressions like 'by next year' and 'by the time', along with its negative and interrogative forms. Additionally, we differentiate it from the Future Simple tense, analyze examples in different contexts, identify common mistakes, and reinforce understanding through practice exercises.

Table of Contents

Definition of Future Perfect Tense

What is Future Perfect Tense?

The Future Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that will be completed at some point in the future before another specified future event or time. Essentially, it indicates that something will be finished by a certain time in the future.

Definition (from other sources)

Cambridge Dictionary: The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed by a particular time in the future.

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries: The future perfect is used for actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future.

English Grammar Today (Cambridge): We use the future perfect tense to express actions that will be completed before a future point in time.

Examples:

  • I will have finished my homework by 5 PM.
  • They will have left by the time we arrive.

Structure of Future Perfect Tense

The structure of the Future Perfect Tense is as follows:

Affirmative Sentence: Subject + will have + past participle of the verb

Example:

  • She will have finished the work by tomorrow.

Negative Sentence: Subject + will not (won't) have + past participle of the verb

Example:

  • They will not (won't) have completed the project by next week.

Interrogative Sentence: Will + subject + have + past participle of the verb?

Example:

  • Will you have finished the task by the deadline?

This tense is used to talk about an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future.

Forming the Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect tense in English is used to describe actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future. It is formed using the following structure:

Structure:Subject + will have + past participle of the main verb

For example:

  • I will have finished my homework by tomorrow.
  • She will have left when we arrive.

Usage:

1. To express an action that will be completed before a specific future time:

  • By next week, I will have read the entire book.

2. To show a future action completed before another action:

  • By the time he calls, I will have already eaten dinner.

Key Points:

  • The auxiliary verb "will" is always used with "have."
  • The main verb must be in its past participle form (e.g., "finished," "seen," "gone").
  • It emphasizes the idea that something will be finished before a certain time in the future.

Usage of Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific time or event in the future. It is formed using the formula:

Subject + will + have + past participle of the verb.

Examples:

  • By next year, I will have finished my project.
    (The action of finishing the project will be completed before next year.)
  • She will have graduated by the time we arrive.
    (She will finish her graduation before we arrive.)

Usage:

To describe an action that will be completed in the future before a certain time or event:

  • By 5 PM, they will have left.

To express a future action that is expected to be completed before another future event:

  • I will have finished reading the book by the time the movie starts.

Key Points:

  • The Future Perfect Tense emphasizes the completion of an action.
  • It often uses time expressions like by tomorrow, by next week, by the time, by the end of the year, etc.

Time Expressions

In English, the future perfect tense is used to describe actions that will be completed at some point in the future. It is formed with the auxiliary verb "will have" + the past participle of the main verb.

Here are some common time expressions used with the future perfect tense:

  • By (a specific time)
    • I will have finished the report by 5 PM.
  • By the time
    • By the time you arrive, I will have already left.
  • By next week/month/year
    • We will have completed the project by next year.
  • In (a period of time)
    • I will have saved enough money in two years.
  • Before
    • She will have left before we get there.
  • Already
    • They will have already finished the exam by the time we start.
  • Soon
    • We will have finished the work soon.
  • In the future
    • By the year 2050, humans will have colonized Mars.

Negative Form and Interrogative Form

In Future Perfect Tense, the structure is used to describe an action that will be completed before a certain point in the future. Here's how you form Negative and Interrogative sentences in the Future Perfect tense:

1. Negative Form

To form a negative sentence in the Future Perfect tense, use the auxiliary verb 'will not' or the contraction 'won't' + have + past participle of the main verb.

Structure:

Subject + will not/won't + have + past participle of the verb

Examples:

  • I will not have finished my work by tomorrow.
  • She won't have arrived by the time we leave.
  • They will not have completed the project by next week.

2. Interrogative Form

To form an interrogative sentence in the Future Perfect tense, invert the auxiliary verb 'will' and the subject, followed by have + past participle of the main verb.

Structure:

Will + subject + have + past participle of the verb?

Examples:

  • Will you have finished the report by Friday?
  • Will he have completed the task by then?
  • Will they have arrived before 8 PM?

Difference Between Future Simple and Future Perfect

The Future Simple tense and the Future Perfect tense are both used to describe actions that will happen in the future, but they are used in different contexts.

Future Simple Tense

Structure: Subject + will + base verb (e.g., "I will study.") Usage: It is used to describe actions that will happen at a specific time in the future or decisions made at the moment of speaking. It often expresses:
  • A general future action or event.
  • A prediction.
  • A spontaneous decision.

Examples:

  • I will go to the store tomorrow.
  • She will be a great artist someday.
  • They will help you with the project.

Future Perfect Tense

Structure: Subject + will + have + past participle (e.g., "I will have studied.") Usage: It is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific time or another action in the future. It focuses on the completion of an action in the future.

Examples:

  • By 2025, I will have graduated from college.
  • She will have finished her work by the time you arrive.
  • They will have left by the time the event starts.

Key Differences:

  • Future Simple: Describes an action that will happen in the future (without any emphasis on completion).
  • Future Perfect: Describes an action that will be completed by a certain point in the future.

Examples in Different Contexts

Here are some examples of sentences in the future perfect tense, used in different contexts:

Work/Professional Context

  • By next month, I will have completed the project report.
  • She will have finished her presentation by 3 PM tomorrow.

Personal Goals

  • By the end of this year, I will have learned to speak French fluently.
  • I will have saved enough money to travel by next summer.

Travel Plans

  • By the time you arrive, we will have already left for the airport.
  • By the end of the trip, we will have visited three countries.

Health & Fitness

  • By the time I turn 30, I will have run a marathon.
  • He will have lost 10 kilograms by next month if he keeps up with his routine.

Education

  • By the time you graduate, you will have completed all the required courses.
  • By the end of this semester, I will have finished all my exams.

Relationships

  • By our anniversary, we will have been married for 5 years.
  • She will have known him for a decade by next year.

Home/Household

  • By the time you get home, I will have cooked dinner.
  • We will have renovated the kitchen by the end of the month.

Technology & Innovation

  • By 2025, AI systems will have surpassed human intelligence in many areas.
  • In the next few years, scientists will have developed new renewable energy solutions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The future perfect tense describes actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the future perfect tense:

1. Incorrect Word Order:

  • ✘ I will finished my work by tomorrow.
  • ✓ I will have finished my work by tomorrow.

Explanation: In future perfect tense, we use "will have" followed by the past participle (finished).

2. Omitting the Auxiliary "Have":

  • ✘ By the time he arrives, I will finished the book.
  • ✓ By the time he arrives, I will have finished the book.

Explanation: The auxiliary "have" is necessary to form the future perfect tense.

3. Using the Base Form of the Verb:

  • ✘ She will arrive before the meeting start.
  • ✓ She will have arrived before the meeting starts.

Explanation: After "will have," the verb should be in its past participle form, like "arrived" (not "arrive").

4. Using the Future Simple Instead of Future Perfect:

  • ✘ They will finish their homework by 8 PM.
  • ✓ They will have finished their homework by 8 PM.

Explanation: The future perfect tense indicates that an action will be completed before a certain future time. The simple future tense does not convey this sense of completion.

5. Not Using the Proper Time Expressions:

  • ✘ I will have eaten lunch.
  • ✓ I will have eaten lunch by noon.

Explanation: Time expressions like "by then," "by the time," or "before" are essential to show the completion of the action in future perfect.

6. Confusing with the Present Perfect:

  • ✘ By next week, I have finished the project.
  • ✓ By next week, I will have finished the project.

Explanation: The present perfect tense (have finished) is used for actions completed in the present, whereas the future perfect tense (will have finished) refers to actions completed in the future.

7. Incorrect Use of "Will" with the Perfect Tense:

  • ✘ I will will have completed my task.
  • ✓ I will have completed my task.

Explanation: Avoid repeating "will" twice. The correct form is "will have" + past participle.

Practice Exercises

Here are some practice exercises for the Future Perfect Tense:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the future perfect tense.

  • 1. By this time next year, I __________ (finish) my project.
  • 2. They __________ (arrive) before the meeting starts.
  • 3. By 10 o’clock, we __________ (complete) the report.
  • 4. In two days, she __________ (leave) for her vacation.
  • 5. He __________ (read) the book by the time you return.
  • 6. By the time I reach the station, the train __________ (depart).
  • 7. They __________ (build) the house by next summer.
  • 8. By 2025, I __________ (graduate) from university.
  • 1. By this time next year, I will have finished my project.
  • 2. They will have arrived before the meeting starts.
  • 3. By 10 o’clock, we will have completed the report.
  • 4. In two days, she will have left for her vacation.
  • 5. He will have read the book by the time you return.
  • 6. By the time I reach the station, the train will have departed.
  • 7. They will have built the house by next summer.
  • 8. By 2025, I will have graduated from university.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct option.

  • 1. By the time you arrive, we __________ finished dinner.
    • a) will have
    • b) will has
    • c) will having
  • 2. I __________ completed my homework by 9 PM.
    • a) will have
    • b) will has
    • c) will have been
  • 3. By the end of the month, she __________ worked in this company for five years.
    • a) will have
    • b) will be having
    • c) will have been
  • 4. The students __________ completed the exam by the time the bell rings.
    • a) will have
    • b) will be
    • c) will having
  • 5. He __________ done all his chores by the time we get home.
    • a) will have
    • b) will has
    • c) will have been
  • 1. By the time you arrive, we will have finished dinner.
    a) will have
  • 2. I will have completed my homework by 9 PM.
    a) will have
  • 3. By the end of the month, she will have been working in this company for five years.
    c) will have been
  • 4. The students will have completed the exam by the time the bell rings.
    a) will have
  • 5. He will have done all his chores by the time we get home.
    a) will have

Exercise 3: Correct the mistakes in the sentences.

  • 1. By next month, I will have been finished all my exams.
  • 2. By the time she comes, we will have eat dinner.
  • 3. They will have completing the assignment by next week.
  • 4. By the time I call, he will have been leave the office.
  • 1. By next month, I will have finished all my exams.
  • 2. By the time she comes, we will have eaten dinner.
  • 3. They will have completed the assignment by next week.
  • 4. By the time I call, he will have left the office.

Exercise 4: Create sentences in the future perfect tense using the following words.

  • 1. By / they / complete / the task.
  • 2. We / finish / dinner / before / the movie starts.
  • 3. She / write / the letter / by the time you arrive.
  • 4. He / travel / to five countries / by next year.
  • 5. I / learn / how to cook / by the end of the month.
  • 1. By then, they will have completed the task.
  • 2. We will have finished dinner before the movie starts.
  • 3. She will have written the letter by the time you arrive.
  • 4. He will have traveled to five countries by next year.
  • 5. I will have learned how to cook by the end of the month.