Introduction
The future perfect describes an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. It looks back at an action from a future perspective.
Subject+will have+past participle
- By Friday, I will have finished the report.
- The last train will have left by the time you arrive.
- By 2030, they will have built 500 new homes.
Uses and Signal Words
The future perfect is used to talk about something that will be completed or achieved before a future deadline or event.
| Signal Words | Example |
|---|---|
| by + future time | By 9am, she will have arrived. |
| by the time + clause | By the time he calls, I will have eaten. |
| before + future event | Before you leave, we will have sorted everything. |
| in + time (from now) | In ten years, robots will have replaced many jobs. |
Future Perfect vs Future Simple
The future simple talks about what will happen. The future perfect talks about what will have been done by a certain point.
| Future Simple | Future Perfect |
|---|---|
| I will finish the project on Friday. (event) | I will have finished the project by Friday. (before deadline) |
| They will build the road. (event) | They will have built the road by next year. (completed by then) |
Practice
By Friday, I ___ the report.
By the time he calls, I ___ eaten.
After 'by the time', which tense should follow in the time clause?
Which sentence uses the future perfect correctly?
She ___ left by the time you arrive.
By 2030, they ___ built 500 new homes.
By 9am, she ___ arrived.
Before you leave, we ___ sorted everything.
In ten years, robots ___ replaced many jobs.
'I will finish the project on Friday' vs 'I will have finished the project by Friday.' What's the difference?
By the end of the year, we ___ saved enough money.
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