We use verbal tense future perfectin English in order to talk about actions or events that will have been completedat a specific point in the future. Even though it is not a very frequent tense, it is important that English language learners master its structure|1|. Formed by two auxiliary verbs, will and have, O future perfect has the main verb inflected in the past participle.
Read too: Going to - simple future mark in english
When to use the futureperfect?
From the point of view of use, the future perfect conveys the idea that something will have ended at some point in the future|2|. Here are some examples:
we will have done our homework by the time our parents arrive at home.
(We will have finished our homework when our parents get home.)
It is noticed that there is a projection of an action completed at a certain point in the future: finishing the homework.
When? By the time the parents get home, the action will be complete.
I won’t have written the book by next month.
(I won't have written the book until next month.)
The action of writing the book, in this case, will not have been completed at the future point “until next month”.
Taking into account the use of future perfect, we will study, in the following topic, the rules of this tense.
See too: Modal verbs – used for suggestion, advice, prohibition, permission
Main rules of futureperfect
verb tense future perfect is formed by the auxiliary verb will + auxiliary verb have + main verb in past participle. Note the structure of the future perfect in affirmative, negative and interrogative forms:
Affirmative form
AFFIRMATIVE | |||
|
Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they) |
will |
have |
graduated. |
Will have graduated = Will have graduated. | |||
|
Note that the auxiliary verbs (will, have) do not inflect for any person. You can use the contracted form of the subject and the auxiliary verb will = I’ll, she’ll, they’ll etc. |
See some examples with this structure:
We will have moved to the new house by July.
(We will have moved into the new house by July.)
She will have passed the test until January.
(She will have passed the test by January.)
In ten years’ time, Eric will have traveled all over the world.
(In ten years Eric will have traveled all over the world.)
Negative form
NEGATIVE | |||
|
Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they) |
will not |
have |
graduated. |
Will have graduated = Will have graduated. | |||
|
Note that the auxiliary verbs (will, have) do not inflect for any person. You can use the contracted form of will + not = won't |
Watch:
You won’t have watched the entire episode by the time I return from the supermarket.
(You won't have watched the entire episode when I get back from the supermarket.)
Interrogative form
INTERROGATIVE | |||
will |
Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they) |
have |
graduated? |
Will have graduated = Will have graduated. | |||
|
Note that the auxiliary verbs (will, have) do not inflect for any person. Don't forget that questions must start with the auxiliary verb. will. |
See this example:
They are coming at 7 pm Will you have organized your things?
(They will arrive at 7:00 at night. Will you have organized your things?)
Note that, in the previous examples, we used some temporal expressions with the future perfect, are they: by (until), by the time (When), in ten years’ time (in ten years), until (until).
See too: Simple present - verb tense that expresses habits, general facts, instructions
Difference between futureperfect and futurecontinuous
to differentiate future perfect in future continuous It is important, first, to know the use of each. while the verbal tense future perfect express some action or event that will be completed before a specific time in the future, the tense future continuous relates to duration/continuity of an action or event in the future.
In terms of structure, the future continuous is formed by the auxiliary verb will + verb to be + main verb + -ing.
Take a look at some examples:
We will be eating lunch when the kids arrive from the school.
(We will be having lunch when the kids get home from school.)
When the second action takes place, the first is in progress.
You can visit us in July. I won’t be working the entire month.
(You can visit us in July. I will not work/will be working all month.)
The focus of the second prayer is on its duration (it won't work all month).
solved exercises
Question 1 (UECE 2013)
In the sentence "A political system in which impunity in politics has been the norm", the verb phrase in the future perfect tense becomes:
a) will have been
b) would have been
c) will have being
d) will be being
Resolution:
Alternative to, because the verb of the prayer is hasbeen (presentperfect), and the same verb in the futureperfect would be willhavebeen.
question 2
The translation of the following sentences “I am reading a very interesting book. I will have read it by next week” would be:
a) I’m read a very interesting book. I’ll have read it until next week.
b) I have been reading a very interesting book. I have read it until next week.
c) I'm reading a very interesting book. I'm reading it until next week.
d) I’m reading a very interesting book. I’ll have read it until next week.
Resolution
Alternative, because the first prayer is in the presentcontinuous, and the second, in the futureperfect.
Grades
|1| DECAPUA, A. grammar for teachers: a guide to American English for native and non-native speakers. Springer: New York, 2008.
|2| EASTWOOD, J. Oxford guide to English grammar. Oxford, 2002.
By Patricia Veronica Moreira
English teacher
