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Grammar

Future Perfect Tense

Future Perfect Tense: A Simple Guide with Examples

Future Perfect Tense - Definition, Usage and Examples

Vedantu provides a clear guide to the future perfect tense, helping you understand how to use it effectively. This tense describes actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. With simple explanations and practical examples, you’ll learn how to form and use the future perfect tense in your writing and speaking. This page will help you grasp the concept and apply it correctly, ensuring you can express future actions accurately. To learn more about different types of future tenses, refer to Future Tenses, a FREE guide.

Table of Content

Interesting Facts About Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense shows that an action will be finished by a certain point in the future. For example, "By next year, I will have graduated."
It can be used to predict or guess what will be completed in the future. For example, "They will have completed the project by the deadline."
The tense is formed using "will have" followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, "I will have travelled to five countries."
It often involves looking forward from one future point to another future point. For example, "By the time she arrives, I will have finished cooking."

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.

Sentence Type	Structure	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3
Positive	Subject + will have + past participle + rest	She will have completed her work by 5 PM.	They will have finished the project by next week.	He will have arrived by the time we start dinner.
Negative	Subject + will not have + past participle + rest	She will not have completed her work by 5 PM.	They will not have finished the project by next week.	He will not have arrived by the time we start dinner.
Interrogative	Will + subject + have + past participle + rest?	Will she have completed her work by 5 PM?	Will they have finished the project by next week?	Will he have arrived by the time we start dinner?
Negative Interrogative	Will + subject + not have + past participle + rest?	Will she not have completed her work by 5 PM?	Will they not have finished the project by next week?	Will he not have arrived by the time we start dinner?

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.

Simple Future Tense	Future Perfect Tense
Used to describe actions that will happen in the future without specifying when they will be completed.	Used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific future time.
Focuses on the occurrence of an event or action in the future.	Focuses on the completion of an action before another future event or time.
Example: "John will start his new job next week."	Example: "John will have started his new job by the time we meet."
Indicates that something will happen after the present moment.	Indicates that something will have happened before another event or time in the future.
Often used for promises, predictions, or spontaneous decisions.	Often used for plans that will be completed by a specific time or for actions that have an expected end point.
Example: "They will travel to London next month."	Example: "They will have traveled to London by the end of next month."

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.

FAQs on Future Perfect Tense: A Simple Guide with Examples

1. What is the future perfect tense?

The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed by a specific time in the future. For example, "By 8 PM, I will have finished my homework."

2. How do you form the future perfect tense?

The future perfect tense is formed using "will have" followed by the past participle of the verb. For example, "She will have eaten dinner by the time we arrive."

3. When should I use the future perfect tense?

Use the future perfect tense when you want to talk about something that will be finished before a certain future time or event. For example, "They will have left before the meeting starts."

4. What’s the difference between the future perfect tense and the simple future tense?

The simple future tense talks about actions that will happen in the future, while the future perfect tense focuses on actions that will be completed by a specific future time.

5. Can I use the future perfect tense with any verb?

Yes, you can use the future perfect tense with any verb that has a past participle form. For example, "She will have run the marathon by noon."

6. How do I make a negative sentence in the future perfect tense?

To make a negative sentence, add "not" after "will." For example, "He will not have finished his work by then."

7. How do I ask a question in the future perfect tense?

To ask a question, start with "Will," followed by the subject, "have," and the past participle of the verb. For example, "Will you have completed the project by tomorrow?"

8. What are some common time expressions used with the future perfect tense?

Common time expressions include "by," "by the time," "before," and "by then." For example, "By the time you get here, we will have eaten dinner."

9. Can the future perfect tense be used in everyday conversation?

Yes, the future perfect tense can be used in both formal and informal situations when you need to talk about future actions that will be completed by a certain time.

10. Is the future perfect tense common in English?

The future perfect tense is less common than other tenses, but it’s important for clearly communicating when an action will be completed in the future.

11. What’s an example of the future perfect tense in a sentence?

"By next year, they will have built the new library."

12. Can the future perfect tense be used for predictions?

Yes, the future perfect tense can be used to predict that something will be completed by a future time. For example, "She will have graduated by 2025."