How to form the Future Perfect: table
will + have (never has!) + the past participle, the same for all persons. Irregular participles are in the irregular verbs table.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Positive | She’ll have left by 6. |
| Negative | She won’t have left by 6. |
| Question | Will she have left by 6? |
| Short answer | Yes, she will. / No, she won’t. |
When to use the Future Perfect
Completed before a future moment
By the end of the year, I’ll have read 30 books.
Don’t worry, we’ll have cleaned the flat by the time you get back.
Totals and anniversaries
In June we will have been married for ten years.
Next month I will have worked here for a year.
Assumptions about the present
It’s 9 o’clock. They’ll have arrived by now.
I’m sure they have
Future Perfect signal words
By means “not later than”. Don’t confuse it with until — “up to”: I’ll wait until 5 — I’ll have finished by 5.
- by Friday
- by 2030
- by then
- by the time
- by the end of the month
- before
- in two years’ time
Future Perfect or Future Continuous?
| Future Perfect | Future Continuous | |
|---|---|---|
| Describes | the action will be finished | the action will be in progress |
| Example | At 9 I’ll have had dinner. | At 9 I’ll be having dinner. |
| Meaning | dinner will be over by 9 | I’ll be in the middle of dinner |
Read more: Future ContinuousRead more: Future Perfect Continuous
Common mistakes
What learners of English often say. On the left — the mistake, on the right — the correct version.
Wrong:
By Friday I will finish the report.Right: By Friday I will have finished the report.
By + a future moment: Future Perfect.
Wrong:
She will has finished.Right: She will have finished.
After will always use have.
Wrong:
I will have went.Right: I will have gone.
After have use V3.
Wrong:
By the time you will come, I’ll have cooked dinner.Right: By the time you come, I’ll have cooked dinner.
After by the time use the Present Simple.
Check yourself
Quiz: Future tenses
24 questions with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up.
I’ll work · I’m going to work · I’ll be working · I’ll have worked