Future Perfect
The future perfect describes an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Formation
Affirmative
will + have + past participle
| Subject | Will Have + Past Participle |
|---|---|
| I / You / He / She / It / We / They | will have finished |
Contraction: I’ll have finished
Examples:
- By 6 pm, I**‘ll have finished** my work.
- By next year, she**‘ll have graduated**.
- They**‘ll have arrived** by now.
Negative
will + not + have + past participle
- I won’t have finished by then.
- She won’t have arrived yet.
- They won’t have completed the project.
Questions
Will + subject + have + past participle?
- Will you have finished by 5?
- Will she have left by then?
- How many will you have completed?
When to Use Future Perfect
1. Completed Before a Future Time
An action that will be finished before a specific point:
- By 8 pm, I**‘ll have eaten** dinner.
- By December, she**‘ll have saved** enough money.
- By next week, they**‘ll have moved** to their new house.
Key expression: by + future time
2. Duration Until a Future Point
How long something will have continued by a future time:
- By next month, I**‘ll have worked** here for 10 years.
- By 2030, they**‘ll have been** married for 25 years.
- By graduation, she**‘ll have studied** for 4 years.
Key expression: for + duration + by + future time
3. Assumptions About the Present
What has probably already happened:
- They**‘ll have arrived** by now. (probably already there)
- She**‘ll have heard** the news by now. (probably knows)
- He**‘ll have left** already. (probably gone)
Key expression: by now
4. Before Another Future Action
Completed before another future event:
- By the time you arrive, I**‘ll have cooked** dinner.
- By the time she’s 30, she**‘ll have traveled** to 50 countries.
- Before the meeting starts, I**‘ll have prepared** everything.
Key expressions: by the time, before
Common Time Expressions
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| by + time | by 6 pm, by Friday, by next year |
| by the time | by the time you arrive |
| by then | I’ll have finished by then |
| by now | They’ll have arrived by now |
| before | before the meeting |
| in + time | in a week’s time |
| within | within the next hour |
Examples:
- By Friday, I’ll have finished the report.
- By the time you read this, I’ll have left.
- By then, she’ll have forgotten everything.
- In a year’s time, we’ll have moved.
Future Perfect vs. Simple Future
| Simple Future | Future Perfect |
|---|---|
| Action in the future | Completed before future point |
| Focus on action | Focus on completion |
Examples:
-
I**‘ll finish** at 6. (I finish at 6)
-
I**‘ll have finished** by 6. (I finish before 6)
-
She**‘ll graduate** next year. (graduation happens then)
-
She**‘ll have graduated** by next summer. (completed before then)
Future Perfect vs. Present Perfect
| Present Perfect | Future Perfect |
|---|---|
| Up to now | Up to a future point |
| Connection to present | Connection to future |
Examples:
-
I have lived here for 5 years. (until now)
-
By 2030, I will have lived here for 10 years. (until 2030)
-
She has written 3 books. (so far)
-
By 50, she will have written 10 books. (by that age)
By the Time + Present Tense
Use present tense (not future) after “by the time”:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| By the time you arrive | |
| By the time she finishes |
Examples:
- By the time you get home, I’ll have made dinner.
- By the time they arrive, we’ll have left.
Practice
Complete with the future perfect:
-
“By 5 pm, I ___ (finish) all my work.” → I will have finished all my work.
-
“By next year, she ___ (live) here for 20 years.” → She will have lived here for 20 years.
-
“They ___ (arrive) by now, don’t you think?” → They will have arrived by now.
-
“By the time you wake up, I ___ (already/leave).” → I will have already left.