The Future Perfect Simple Tense


Introduction

The future perfect simple tense expresses an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future, indicating the culmination of an event or state. In this article, we will define this tense and explore its form and uses. Illustrative examples will be provided.

Let’s get started with understanding what the future perfect simple tense is!

What Is The Future Perfect Simple?

The future perfect simple tense is used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. It is formed by combining the future tense of the auxiliary verb “will” with the past participle of the main verb.

The structure is as follows:

Will have + Past participle

For example:

  1. By the time we arrive at the airport, the plane will have departed.
    • In this sentence, the action of the plane departing (completed action) will happen before the specified future point, which is the time of our arrival at the airport.
  2. She will have finished her project by the end of the week.
    • Here, the completion of the project is anticipated to occur before the end of the week.
  3. By the time the guests arrive, the chef will have prepared a delicious feast.
    • The preparation of the feast will be finished before the guests’ arrival.

The future perfect simple tense is particularly useful when discussing events or actions that will be finalized before a known future time or before another action takes place. It adds a layer of specificity to the timing of completed actions in the future.

Now, let’s explore the forms of the future perfect simple tense!

Forms Of The Future Perfect Simple

The formula of the future perfect simple is straightforward:

will have past participle
Future Perfect Simple Formula

Here are the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms of this tense:

Pronoun Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I I will have finished my work by the deadline. I will not have finished my work by the deadline. Will I have finished my work by the deadline?
You (singular) You will have finished your project by Friday. You will not have finished your project on time. Will you have finished your project by Friday?
He/She/It He will have finished his presentation by noon. He will not have finished his presentation yet. Will he have finished his presentation by noon?
We We will have finished our chores by evening. We will not have finished our chores by then. Will we have finished our chores by evening?
You (plural) You will have finished your assignments by Monday. You will not have finished your assignments. Will you have finished your assignments by Monday?
They They will have finished their tasks by tomorrow. They will not have finished their tasks on time. Will they have finished their tasks by tomorrow?

Note About The Contracted Forms:

  • I will have finished = I’ll have finished
  • I will not have finished = I won’t have finished

Usage Of The Future Perfect Simple Tense

Future Perfect Simple Illustration

The future perfect simple tense is typically used when indicating that an action will be completed before another action occurs in the future or before a specific time in the future.

Here are examples illustrating the uses of the future perfect simple tense:

  1. Before Another Action Occurs in the Future:
    • By the time we arrive at the party, they will have already started dancing.
      • Here, the action of starting to dance (completed action) occurs before the future action of our arrival at the party.
  2. Before a Specific Time in the Future:
    • She will have completed the marathon by noon.
      • In this example, the completion of the marathon is set to happen before the specific time of noon in the future.

Time Expressions

Here’s a table with time expressions or signal words with corresponding examples using the future perfect simple tense:

Time Expression Example Sentence
By the time By the time the concert begins, we will have already bought our tickets.
Before Before the reunion, they will have graduated from university.
By He will have completed the assignment by Monday.
When When the guests arrive, we will have set up the decorations.
Until Until next month, they will have been married for ten years.
By the end of By the end of the week, they will have signed the contract.
In In two hours, they will have reached their destination.
Before long Before long, she will have mastered the skill.
By the next (month, year) By the next month, we will have moved to a new city.
Soon Soon, they will have completed the construction project.

Example Sentences

Here are example sentences with the present perfect simple:

  1. By the time the concert begins, we will have already bought our tickets.
  2. They will have finished building the new bridge by the end of the year.
  3. She will have learned French before she moves to Paris.
  4. I am confident that he will have completed the project by the deadline.
  5. By the time you return, I will have painted the entire room.
  6. The astronauts will have landed on Mars before the next decade.
  7. He says that he will have fixed the car by tomorrow.
  8. We will have celebrated our tenth anniversary next month.
  9. By the time the sun sets, they will have reached the mountain summit.
  10. She is optimistic that the flowers will have bloomed by spring.
  11. The company will have relocated to the new office space by July.
  12. They will have graduated from university before the reunion.
  13. The chef will have prepared a gourmet feast for the guests by evening.
  14. We are hopeful that the vaccine will have been widely distributed by next year.
  15. By the time the train arrives, we will have already packed our luggage.
  16. By the end of this weekend, I will have revised my lessons.
  17. By the time her husband arrives home, she will have prepared dinner.
  18. won’t have finished this task by the end of June

Conclusion

To sum up, the future perfect tense is used to refer to an action that will be completed before another action occurs in the future or before a specific time in the future. It is formed by adding the past participle form of the main verb to “will have“.

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