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

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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!

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.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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”).
  4. 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.”
  5. 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.
  6. 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.”
  7. 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?”
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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:

  1. I will not have finished my homework by 8 PM.
  2. They shall not have completed the project by the deadline.
  3. 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:

  1. I will have finished my homework by 8 PM.
  2. They shall have completed the project by the deadline.
  3. 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 FormPast TensePast ParticipleFuture Perfect Tense Example
PlayPlayedPlayedThey will have played soccer.
WorkWorkedWorkedI will have worked for 10 hours.
TalkTalkedTalkedShe will have talked to her friend.
WalkWalkedWalkedWe will have walked five miles.
StudyStudiedStudiedHe will have studied all night.
CookCookedCookedYou will have cooked dinner.
CleanCleanedCleanedThey will have cleaned the house.
WatchWatchedWatchedI will have watched the movie.
SingSangSungShe will have sung a beautiful song.
DanceDancedDancedWe 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 FormPast TensePast ParticipleFuture Perfect Tense Example
GoWentGoneThey will have gone to the store.
DoDidDoneI will have done my homework.
HaveHadHadShe will have had a busy day.
BeWas/WereBeenWe will have been friends for years.
SeeSawSeenI will have seen that movie.
EatAteEatenHe will have eaten dinner by now.
TakeTookTakenThey will have taken the test.
WriteWroteWrittenShe will have written a novel.
DriveDroveDrivenWe will have driven for hours.
DrinkDrankDrunkI will have drunk a glass of water.

Future Perfect Tense Examples

Following are some of the examples for future perfect tense:

SentenceMeaning
By the time you arrive, I will have left.I will leave before your arrival.
She will have completed her project.The project will be finished.
They will have eaten dinner by 7 PM.Dinner will be finished by 7 PM.
We shall have seen the sunrise tomorrow.We will witness the sunrise.
I will have finished reading the book.Reading the book will be complete.
By next week, he will have graduated.Graduation will occur before next week.
They will have fixed the car by evening.Car repair will be finished by evening.
She will have written her essay.The essay will be completed.
I shall have visited five countries.I will have traveled to five countries.
By the end of the day, he will have painted the room.Room painting will be done by the end of the

Future Perfect Tense Sample Exercise

Which sentence is in the future perfect tense?
a) She is singing at the concert.
b) They will have finished their meal by 8 PM.
c) He goes to the gym every morning.

What is the correct future perfect tense form of the verb “read” in the sentence: “I the entire book by tomorrow”?
a) will read
b) will have reading
c) will have read

Answers:

  1. b) They will have finished their meal by 8 PM.
  2. c) will have read

Future Perfect Tense Sample Exercises PDF

Types of Tenses Chart 

Past Tense

Present Tense

Future Tense
Simple Past TenseSimple Present TenseSimple Future Tense
Past Continuous TensePresent Continuous TenseFuture Continuous Tense
Past Perfect TensePresent Perfect TenseFuture Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Continuous
Tense
Present Perfect Continuous TenseFuture Perfect Continuous
Tense
Past Unreal (Third Conditional)Present Unreal (Second Conditional)Future Unreal (Mixed Conditional)

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