The future perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that will be completed before a specific time in the future. It is formed using the auxiliary verbs shall and will followed by the auxiliary verb to have (both in the future tense) and the past participle of the main verb.
I will have finished my homework before I watch TV. (The speaker will complete their homework at some point in the future before a specific time in the future when they will watch TV.)
She will have been living in New York for five years before she moves to Los Angeles. (The speaker will have been living in New York for five years at some point in the future before a specific time in the future when they will move to Los Angeles.)
Here are some more examples of sentences in the future perfect tense:
They will have visited three countries before they go on their trip.
We will have eaten at that restaurant twice before we decide to try a different one.
He will have finished his degree before he applies for the job.
I will have read that book before I see the movie.
Formation of Future Perfect
#1. The Future Perfect is formed by means of the Future Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to have and Participle II of the notional verb.
#2. In the interrogative form, the first auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. And in the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the first auxiliary verb.
| Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| I shall have worked He will have worked She will have worked We shall have worked You will have worked They will have worked |
Shall I have worked? Will he have worked? Will she have worked? Shall we have worked? Will you have worked? Will they have worked? |
I shall not have worked He will not have worked She will not have worked We shall not have worked You will not have worked They will not have worked |
#3. The contracted affirmative forms are:
I’ll have worked
He’ll have worked
The contracted negative forms are:
I shan’t have worked
He won’t have worked
#4. The negative-interrogative forms are:
Will he not have worked? = Won’t he have worked?
Shall we not have worked? = Shan’t we have worked?
Use of the Future Perfect
The Future Perfect tense is often used to describe actions or events that will be completed before a specific time in the future. It can also be used to describe experiences or accomplishments that will have taken place at an unspecified time in the future before a specific time in the future.
#1. The Future Perfect denotes an action completed before a definite moment in the future.
I shall be back by six, and I hope you will have had a good sleep by that time. (Marryat)
#2. The Future Perfect can denote an action that will begin before a definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment, and will be going on at that This use of the Future Perfect is called the Future Perfect Inclusive.
The Future Perfect Inclusive is used with verbs not admitting of the Continuous form, in negative sentences, and with non-terminative verbs such as to work, to live, to study, to teach, etc.
I shall have been a teacher for 20 years by next May.
I shall have worked as a teacher for 20 years by next May.