Understanding the Future Perfect Tense

Future Perfect Tense Means

The future perfect tense is used to talk about actions or events that will be completed by a specific time in the future. This tense shows that the action will finish before a certain point in the future.

Here are some definitions of the future perfect tense from different dictionaries.

Future Perfect Tense Definition

The future perfect tense is used to indicate that an action will be completed by a certain time in the future. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it shows that an action will have been performed by a specific future moment. The Collins Dictionary describes it as a tense used for actions that will be finished by a particular time in the future. Merriam-Webster explains it as a verb tense formed with "will have" or "shall have," used to express that an action will be completed by a future point. Similarly, the Britannica Dictionary defines it as a tense referring to an action that will be completed by a specified future time.

Future Perfect Tense Structure and Formula

If you’re unsure how to use the future perfect tense, understanding the basic formula will help.

Future Perfect Tense Formula:

Subject + Helping verbs (will + have) + Past participle form of the main verb + the rest of the sentence.

Once you know the formula, it's useful to see how this tense is used in positive, negative, interrogative, and negative interrogative sentences. Check out the table below for examples.

Future Perfect Tense Rules or Key Points to Remember While Using

• The future perfect tense is created using two auxiliary verbs: will and have, followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example: They will have reached the station by eight in the morning.

• The past participle of regular verbs is formed by adding ‘ed’ to the base form of the verb. For example: talk → talked.

• Irregular verbs do not follow the regular pattern and have different past participle forms. For instance: go → gone.

• For a comprehensive list and detailed explanations of irregular verbs and their past participles, refer to the article on irregular verbs.

Adverbs Suitable for Use with the Future Perfect Tense

To use the future perfect tense effectively, you need to include a time frame. Here’s a list of adverbs you can use to show when something will happen:

• By

• Before

• After

• In

• Within

• By the time

• Already

• Soon

• Later

• Eventually

• Up to

• Before long

• In a few days

• In a year

• In the future

Future Perfect Tense Uses

The future perfect tense is used to describe:

• An action or event that will be completed before a specific time in the future.

• An action or event that will finish before another future event.

• A strong belief about something that will occur by a certain future time.

Difference Between Simple Future Tense and Future Perfect Tense

Many English learners often get confused about when to use the simple future tense versus the future perfect tense. To clear up this confusion, check out the table below to understand the differences between these two tenses.

Future Perfect Tense Examples

Below are the few examples that helps to understand how to use Future Perfect Tense

• Describing an action or event that will be completed by a specific time in the future, She will have finished her homework by 8 PM.

• They will have left the office before the meeting starts.

Describing an action or event that will be completed before another future action or event

• She will have finished her homework before dinner starts.

• They will have left for the airport by the time you arrive.

Expressing certainty about something that will or won’t happen in the future

• She is certain that she will get the job by the end of the month.

• They are sure the project won’t be completed by the deadline.

To know more about different tenses in Future Tense please refer to the Youtube video provided by Vedantu. And it is completely FREE.

Here are a Few Future Perfect Tense Sentences to Test YKnowledge

1. Sentence Completion

Complete the following sentences using the future perfect tense.

1. By next Friday, I __________ (finish) my research paper.

2. By the time you arrive, they __________ (leave) the party.

3. She __________ (complete) her training before the new job starts.

4. We __________ (visit) all the major landmarks by the end of our trip.

5. By midnight, he __________ (solve) the problem.

2. Transform Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences in the future perfect tense.

1. She will write the report by tomorrow.

2. They will complete the project before the deadline.

3. I will learn French by the time I travel to France.

4. He will start his own business by next year.

5. We will plant the trees by the end of the week.

3. Create Sentences

Create five sentences in the future perfect tense using the following verbs.

1. Finish

2. Achieve

3. Build

4. Write

5. Graduate

4. Identify the Tense

Identify whether the following sentences are in the future perfect tense or not. If not, change them to the future perfect tense.

1. By this time tomorrow, she will be preparing for the exam.

2. They will have finished their homework by 7 PM.

3. We will travel to Europe next summer.

4. He will have saved enough money to buy a car.

5. By the end of the month, I will submit the report.

5. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the future perfect tense.

1. By the time you get home, I __________ (cook) dinner.

2. They __________ (move) to a new house by the end of the year.

3. By next week, she __________ (complete) all her assignments.

4. We __________ (finish) painting the house by the time you visit.

5. He __________ (win) the championship by the end of the season.

Here You Go—Check if Your Answers Match the Ones Below!

1. Sentence Completion

1. By next Friday, I will have finished my research paper.

2. By the time you arrive, they will have left the party.

3. She will have completed her training before the new job starts.

4. We will have visited all the major landmarks by the end of our trip.

5. By midnight, he will have solved the problem.

2. Transform Sentences

1. She will have written the report by tomorrow.

2. They will have completed the project before the deadline.

3. I will have learned French by the time I travel to France.

4. He will have started his own business by next year.

5. We will have planted the trees by the end of the week.

3. Create Sentences

1. By the time you arrive, I will have finished my work.

2. She will have achieved her goal by the end of the year.

3. They will have built the new school by next summer.

4. He will have written three books by the time he turns 40.

5. We will have graduated from college by next June.

4. Identify the Tense

1. By this time tomorrow, she will have prepared for the exam. (Changed from future continuous to future perfect)

2. They will have finished their homework by 7 PM. (Correct, this is in future perfect tense)

3. We will have travelled to Europe next summer. (Changed from simple future to future perfect)

4. He will have saved enough money to buy a car. (Correct, this is in future perfect tense)

5. By the end of the month, I will have submitted the report. (Changed from simple future to future perfect)

5. Fill in the Blanks

1. By the time you get home, I will have cooked dinner.

2. They will have moved to a new house by the end of the year.

3. By next week, she will have completed all her assignments.

4. We will have finished painting the house by the time you visit.

5. He will have won the championship by the end of the season.

Takeaways from This Page

• Students will learn that the future perfect tense is used to describe actions that will be completed by a specific point in the future.

• They will understand how to form a sentence using the Future Perfect Tense rules: Subject + will have + past participle of the verb.

• Through examples, students will see how the future perfect tense is applied in real-life situations, such as predicting future outcomes or planning ahead.

• They will also learn how to use time expressions like "by," "before," "by the time," and "within" to correctly frame sentences in the future perfect tense.

• They will understand the difference between the future perfect tense and other tenses, like the simple future tense.