Future Perfect Tense Examples: Definition, Structure, Rules, Exercises [PDF Available]

Future perfect tense examples: The future perfect tense describes an action that has already been done. When we employ this tense, we are looking back on an activity that will be done at a future date and forward into the future. The most frequent pairing between it and a time expression. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about future perfect tense examples, structure, rules, sample worksheets and much more!

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What is Future Perfect Tense?

The future perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe an action that will be completed at some point in the future before another action or time. It is formed by using the future auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” and the base form of the main verb, combined with the past participle of the main verb.

Tenses Rules and Examples

Structure For Future Perfect Tense

Future Perfect Tense Rules You Must Know

To use the future perfect tense correctly, there are several rules and points to remember. Here are some key guidelines for usAnd Points to Remembering this tense:

Formation of Future Perfect Tense:
- To form the future perfect tense, use the auxiliary verbs “will” or “shall” (depending on the subject) followed by “have” and the past participle of the main verb.
Use of “Will” and “Shall”:
- Use “will” with most subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
- Use “shall” with the first person singular and plural subjects (I and we).
Regular and Irregular Verbs:
- The past participle of regular verbs is formed by adding “ed” to the base form (e.g., “played,” “worked”).
- Irregular verbs have unique past participle forms (e.g., “gone,” “written,” “eaten”).
Time Expressions:
- The future perfect tense often includes time expressions to indicate when the action will be completed. Common time expressions include “by the time,” “before,” “by next week,” “by the end of the day,” and “by this time tomorrow.”
Sequence of Events:
- The future perfect tense is used to indicate an action that will be completed before another future action or point in time. It helps establish a sequence of events.
Negation:
- To form a negative sentence in the future perfect tense, add “not” after “will” or “shall.” For example, “will not have,” “shall not have.”
Questions:
- To create a question in the future perfect tense, invert the subject and the auxiliary verb. For example, “Will you have finished?” “Shall we have completed?”
Use of “By” and “Before”:
- The words “by” and “before” are often used to specify the time when the action will be completed. “By” indicates a point in time by which the action will be finished, and “before” specifies an action completed prior to another event.
Be Specific:
- When using the future perfect tense, be specific about the time or event that the action will be completed. This helps avoid ambiguity.
Examples:

By the time you arrive, I will have already left.
She will have completed her project before the deadline.
Will they have finished their homework by tonight?

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Future Perfect Tense Exceptions

The future perfect tense is a relatively straightforward tense to form, but there are some exceptions and special cases to be aware of. Here are a few exceptions and considerations when using the future perfect tense:

No Future Perfect Continuous: Unlike the future continuous tense (e.g., “will be doing”), there is no future perfect continuous tense. You can’t express ongoing actions that will be completed in the future using the future perfect tense.
Use of “Shall”: While “shall” can be used with the first person singular and plural subjects (I and we) to form the future perfect tense, its usage is less common in modern English, particularly in American English. “Will” is more commonly used with all subjects.
Modal Verbs: Modal verbs like “can,” “may,” “must,” “should,” “might,” etc., do not have future perfect forms. They don’t use “will” or “shall” to create a future perfect tense. Instead, they express future possibilities and obligations differently.
Common Irregular Past Participles: The past participles of irregular verbs can be unpredictable and may not follow regular patterns. For example, “go” becomes “gone,” “write” becomes “written,” and “eat” becomes “eaten.” You’ll need to memorize these irregular forms.
Stative Verbs: Stative verbs, which describe states of being or conditions (e.g., “love,” “believe,” “understand”), are less commonly used in the future perfect tense because it’s less common to discuss them in the context of future completion. Action verbs are more commonly used in this tense.
Context Matters: The use of the future perfect tense often depends on the context and the specific time relationship you want to express. It’s important to choose the right tense based on what you want to convey.
Common Mistakes: Learners of English sometimes misuse the future perfect tense by either overusing it or using it incorrectly. It’s important to remember that this tense is used to describe an action that will be completed before another specific future action or time. It’s not used to describe all future actions.

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How to Make Future Perfect Tense Negative

To make a sentence in the future perfect tense negative, you need to add the word “not” after the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” and before “have.” Here’s the general structure for forming a negative sentence in the future perfect tense:

Negative Sentence Structure: [Subject] + [Will/Shall] + [Not] + [Have] + [Past Participle of the Main Verb]

Here are some examples:

I will not have finished my homework by 8 PM.
They shall not have completed the project by the deadline.
She will not have eaten dinner when you arrive.

How to Make Future Perfect Tense Positive

To create a positive sentence in the future perfect tense, you need to follow a specific structure using the auxiliary verbs “will” or “shall” and the past participle of the main verb. Here’s how you form a positive sentence in the future perfect tense:

Positive Sentence Structure: [Subject] + [Will/Shall] + [Have] + [Past Participle of the Main Verb]

Here are some examples:

I will have finished my homework by 8 PM.
They shall have completed the project by the deadline.
She will have eaten dinner when you arrive.

Common Regular Verbs in Future Perfect Tense

Here is a table with examples of common regular verbs in the future perfect tense, including their base form, past tense, and past participle:

Base Form	Past Tense	Past Participle	Future Perfect Tense Example
Play	Played	Played	They will have played soccer.
Work	Worked	Worked	I will have worked for 10 hours.
Talk	Talked	Talked	She will have talked to her friend.
Walk	Walked	Walked	We will have walked five miles.
Study	Studied	Studied	He will have studied all night.
Cook	Cooked	Cooked	You will have cooked dinner.
Clean	Cleaned	Cleaned	They will have cleaned the house.
Watch	Watched	Watched	I will have watched the movie.
Sing	Sang	Sung	She will have sung a beautiful song.
Dance	Danced	Danced	We will have danced at the party.

Common Irregular Verbs in Future Perfect Tense

Here is a table with examples of common irregular verbs in the future perfect tense, including their base form, past tense, and past participle:

Base Form	Past Tense	Past Participle	Future Perfect Tense Example
Go	Went	Gone	They will have gone to the store.
Do	Did	Done	I will have done my homework.
Have	Had	Had	She will have had a busy day.
Be	Was/Were	Been	We will have been friends for years.
See	Saw	Seen	I will have seen that movie.
Eat	Ate	Eaten	He will have eaten dinner by now.
Take	Took	Taken	They will have taken the test.
Write	Wrote	Written	She will have written a novel.
Drive	Drove	Driven	We will have driven for hours.
Drink	Drank	Drunk	I will have drunk a glass of water.