The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. It’s one of the less common tenses in English, but it’s essential for expressing precise timing. Exercise 1 of 2.
Grammar reviewThe future perfect — structure and meaning
The future perfect is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future.
Structure:will have + past participle “By next Friday, I will have finished the report.” “She will have graduated by the time you visit.”
When to use it:
• To say that an action will be complete before a future deadline or event
• Often used with by + time expression: by tomorrow, by next year, by the time “By the end of the month, they will have sold 1,000 units.”
Negative and question forms: “She will not have arrived by then.” “Will you have completed the project by Monday?”
Note on past participles:
Regular verbs add -ed: finished, prepared, arrived
Irregular verbs must be memorized: written, learnt/learned, gone, taken, eaten
READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!
Complete each sentence with the correct future perfect form of the verb in brackets (will have + past participle).
1. I am writing a book.
By this time next month, I the book.✓
2. Maria is preparing a report.
By this time tomorrow, Maria the report.✓
3. Martha is learning German.
By this time next year, Martha German.✓
4. They are inviting all their friends.
By this time tomorrow, they all their friends.✓
5. We are bringing our stuff to our new apartment.
By this time tomorrow, we all our stuff to our new apartment.✓
6. I am fixing my computer.
By this time next week, I my computer.✓
7. My mother is making dinner.
By the time the guests arrive, my mother dinner.✓
8. Peter is reading a magazine.
By the time his flight lands, Peter the magazine.✓
9. My sister and I are painting our apartment.
By this time tomorrow, my sister and I our apartment.✓
10. John is cleaning the house.
By the time his parents arrive, John the house.✓
11. We are finishing our homework.
By the time the game starts, we our homework.✓
12. Sam is taking a shower.
By the time Jim wakes up, Sam a shower.✓
13. My friends are leaving.
By 8:00 PM, my friends .✓
14. We are making a lot of food.
By dinner time, we a lot of food.✓
15. Peter is sweeping the kitchen floor.
By the time the guests arrive, Peter the kitchen floor.✓
16. The teacher is checking our answers.
By the end of class, the teacher our answers.✓
17. My brother is building a birdhouse.
By this time tomorrow, my brother a birdhouse.✓
18. Amelia is cycling 50 miles.
By the end of the day, Amelia 50 miles.✓
19. My sister and I are hiking to the top of the mountain.
By this time tomorrow, my sister and I to the top of the mountain.✓
20. Joanna is organizing the local film festival.
By next week, Joanna the local film festival.✓