Future Perfect

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Future Perfect: Uses

Rule

The future perfect tense expresses:

  1. A finished action before a certain time in the future

A timeline representing the future perfect verb tense.
  1. Emphasis on the duration of an action before another action or moment in the future

A timeline representing the future perfect verb tense.
  1. A prediction or an assumption about a future event that will happen before a certain time in the future

A timeline representing the future perfect verb tense.
Examples
  1. A finished action before a certain time in the future

Examples of a finished action before a certain time in the future.
  1. Emphasis on the duration of an action before another action or moment in the future

 Example of the emphasis on the duration of an action before another action or moment in the future.
  1. A prediction or an assumption about a future event that will happen before a certain time in the future

Example of a prediction or an assumption about a future event that will happen before a certain time in the future.
Tip

Simple Future vs Future Perfect

Using the future perfect verb tense usually requires more context, such as a conversation. 

In many cases, using the simple future could also work but won’t be as specific about what it implies.

Here are some guidelines to help you choose between the simple future or the future perfect.

Simple future

  • Used with or without a specified period of time

  • Is more general

Simple future timeline.

They will compile evidence and they will discuss the case.

It implies:
That both actions will be completed in the future without mentioning any deadline.
 

Detectives looking at evidence.

Future perfect

  • Used with a specified deadline 

  • Focuses on future actions being completed before another action

A timeline representing the future perfect verb tense.

They will have compiled all the evidence before they discuss the case.

It implies:
That they will be done compiling the evidence by the time they discuss the case. One action must be finished before the other one occurs. 

Detectives ready to present evidence.

Future Perfect: Affirmative Form

Rule

Points to remember when forming future perfect affirmative sentences:

  1. Use the auxiliary modal verb will.

  2. Use the base form of the auxiliary verb to have.

  3. Use the past participle of the verb.

Sentence builders using the future perfect verb tense.
Example
Example using the future perfect verb tense of a man eating take-out food.

Future Perfect: Affirmative Form—Exercise

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Future Perfect: Negative Form

Rule

Points to remember when forming negative future perfect sentences:

  1. Use the auxiliary modal verb will.

  2. Place the function word not after the auxiliary modal verb will.

  3. Use the base form of the auxiliary verb to have.

  4. Use the past participle form of the verb.

 

Future perfect negative sentence builders.
Examples
Future perfect negative sentence example.

Future Perfect: Negative Form—Exercise

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Future Perfect: Question Form

Rule

Points to remember when forming questions in the future perfect:

  1. Place the auxiliary modal verb will before the subject.

  2. Use the base form of the auxiliary verb to have.

  3. Use the past participle form of the verb.

For information questions only:

  1. Place a question word at the beginning

Question builders showing how to make a yes/no question or an information question.
Examples
  1. Yes/No questions

Will

subject

have

past participle

object?

Will

Theodore

have

reached

the port before the criminals get away?

Will

he

have

worked

in this city by next month?

  1. Information questions 

Question Word

Will

subject

have

past participle

object?

What

Will

Theodore

have

discovered

by the end of the year?

How long

Will

he

have

worked

in this city by next month?

Future Perfect: Question Form—Exercise

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