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Grammar:Future Perfect Simple Tense:Usage & Examples

Updated: Jul 21


1. What is the Future Perfect Simple Tense?

- Future Perfect Simple form = will + have + verb (past participle)


e.g. will have met, will have told, will have spoken, etc.


2. Future Simple 'will' vs Future Perfect Simple - What is Difference?

- Future Simple form = will + verb (base form)

e.g. will meet, will tell, will speak, etc.


3. When do we use the Future Perfect Simple?

- We use the Future Perfect tense to predict an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future.



4. How to use the Future Perfect Simple Tense - Example Sentence


1. Sheila will have finished the book by tomorrow.

We'll have waited 8 hours outside the concert hall by the time they open the doors.
Future Perfect Simple - will have + past participle

2. The train will not have arrived by the time we get there.


3. By the time they open the doors, we'll have waited outside the concert hall for 8 hours.


4. The bus will have left by the time you make your mind.


5. By next year , they will have completed the language course.




Grammar Point!

How to make the Past Participle Form?


- Past Participle is formed by adding (-ed) to the basic (regular) verb

e.g. Past Simple Past Participle

(regular verbs) > play played played


(irregular verbs) > write wrote written




5. How to form the Future Perfect Simple: Positive, Negative, Yes / No Question, Short Answers


i. Future Perfect - (positive) + short form

- (will + have + past participle)


e.g. forget > forgotten (past participle)


I / you / we / they will ('ll) have forgotten

he/ she / it will ('ll) have forgotten



ii. Future Perfect - (negative) + short form

- (will + not + have + Past Participle)


I / you / we / they will ('ll not, won't) have forgotten

he/ she / it will ('ll not, won't) have forgotten


Will they have met by this time next week?
Future Perfect Simple - Yes/ No Question

iv. Yes/No Question


Will I / you / we / they have met...?


Will he/ she / it have met ...?


v. Short answers - (positive)

- Yes, I / you / we / they will.

- Yes, he/ she / it will.



vi. Short answers - (negative) + short form

- No, I / you / we / they will not ('ll not, won't).

- No, he/ she / it will not ('ll not, won't).




Grammar Point!

- 3 Ways to predict the future using 'will' - Example Sentences


i. (Future Simple tense) - Using 'will' to predict future event / happening.

e.g. In the future robots will replace workers.


ii. (Future Continuous) - to predict ongoing actions in the future.

e.g. In 10 years time people will be eating even more processed foods.


iii. (Future Perfect) to predict an action that will be completed by a certain time.

e.g. By 2045 scientists will have discovered the cure for many diseases.



Check out other Tenses:



6. Quick Recap!


The Future Perfect Simple Tense - Example Sentence


i) We use the Future Perfect when we want to predict an action that will be finished at a particular time in the future.


Stacey will have arrived in London this time next Friday.
Future Perfect + Time Expressions (future)

e.g.


1. Tom will have arrived in London this time tomorrow.


2. By the time she gets home, all of us will have gone to bed.





ii) We usually use the Future Perfect Simple with these time expressions in the future time period:


e.g.


(time) - I'll have finished my report by 7 this evening. (season) - May & Peter will have been together 12 years this summer.


(month) - Megan will have knitted 40 scarves by end November.


​(special day) - He will have proposed to his girlfriend by Christmas.


​​(week / month /year etc.)

- All members of staff will have returned to the office this time next week.

(e.g. if today is Monday, it means next Monday etc.)



- By this time next month, I will have moved to a new apartment.

I'll have moved to Canada by this time next summer.
Future Perfect Simple - Time Expressions

e.g.

(today's date) (next month)

| |

4th August 4th September





- I'll have moved to a new apartment by this time next month.


Note!

Time Expressions can be at beginning or end of sentence.


Vocabulary Check!

'by' has many different uses.

Here, it's used for time. Meaning = at, before, not later than...



iii) How to form using the Time phrase:by the time + subject + verb (present simple) - Example Sentence


(positive)

- We'll have finished dinner by the time she arrives.


(negative)

- We won't have finished dinner by the time she arrives.


(yes/no Question)

- Will we have finished dinner by the time she arrives?



Grammar Point!

- In the above example sentences you can see that we use the Future Perfect Simple to predict an action that will be completed by a certain time in the future.


How many Perfect tenses are there?

Compare:

>> Past Perfect Continuous

>> Future Perfect Simple

>> Future Perfect Continuous




7. Let's Review - More Example Conversation


i) We use the Future Perfect Simple to talk about or predict an action that will be finished by a certain time in the future


ii) we usually use with future time expressions

This coffee truck will have closed by the time we finish work.
Future Perfect Simple - will have closed

Example Conversation



This conversation is between 2 office workers talking at a coffee truck.


(Notice all the different tenses used.)


A: Hey Cara.


B: Hi, Eddie. How have you been?


A: Great. And you?


B: Not too bad. Work's been a little busier than usual.


A: That's good, right? Is Brady back from his trip yet?


B: No, he's still in Tokyo. He'll be back tomorrow afternoon. You guys are

going out for drinks this Friday?


A: Yeah. Jack, one of the guys we used to hang out with, is retiring next month.


He hopes to spend more time with his grandchildren.


B: Oh yeah. I think I've met him once or twice. A really nice guy. His wife works in the gallery next door.


A: Yeah. That's him. I'm really looking forward to hanging out with the guys on Friday.


B: Sure. Brady will have arrived home by this time tomorrow.


A: Cool. Oh, I think I'll have another coffee.


B: (laughing) Can't you come down later for another cup?


A: No, the coffee truck will have closed by the time I finish work.


B: Are you planning to work late today?


A: Yeah, maybe.


B: Your wife and daughter are still away from home? Aren't they coming home today?


A: Yeah, they will have reached my in-laws' place by 9 tonight.


I'll probably finish around 8, have a quick dinner and fetch them from the station.




Grammar Learning Tip!

- As in real life, you would need to use several different tenses in a conversation. Don't worry too much about the names of tenses if you can't remember them.



a. How you can learn from the above Example Conversation:


1. Look through the different tenses used in the above Conversation Example.

2. Click on the link below if you need to review tenses or refresh your grammar.

3. Take note of any new phrases & phrasal verbs. We use them a lot in everyday English.



b. Grammar Highlights - Mixed Tenses & Phrasal Verb Explained

- Tense/ Phrasal Verb

Present Simple - Example Sentence:​

​- Is Brady back from his trip yet?

- No, he's still in Tokyo. He wants to spend more time with his grandchildren.


Future: will, be going to. Use 'I think', 'perhaps', etc with 'will'.

​- He'll be back tomorrow afternoon. I think I'll have another coffee.

​- You guys are going out for drinks this Friday,right?


Different ways to talk about the past, future:

>> 'used to' for past habits

>> Present Continuous (-ing form) for future plans


e.g. one of the guys we used to hang out with, is retiring next month.

Present Perfect Simple

e.g. I think I've met him once or twice.


​Phrasal Verb (look forward to something)

- Meaning: feel excited, happy about something happening soon.

e.g. I'm really looking forward to hanging out with the guys.


How to form​: (look forward + to + verb -ing)

e.g. I'm looking forward to seeing you and your kids.

​noun

​in-laws

​Meaning: a parent of your husband / wife or a member of his / her family



Self-Study Tip!

Practise making sentences of your own using the different tenses and the phrasal verbs



7. Let's put your knowledge to the test!


English Learning Tip

Remember to say the words/phrases & sentences out loud. You are practising to speak better English. You can do it!



Make your sentences using the Future Perfect.


Say it aloud or write it down!


1. How do you think your life will have changed in 5 years' time?

Your Answer: ..............


2. What are 3 things you think you won't have achieved in 2 years' time?


Your Answer: ..............



English Grammar Learning Tip!

Make your learning personal to you. Review the new phrases and make your own sentences. Personalise them. Think of your life, the people you know etc. when you are practising the examples. Change the location, names of people and the situation etc.



Good Luck.


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