Future Perfect Tense: When and How to Use

What is the Future Perfect tense?

The Future Perfect tense refers to actions expected to be completed prior to a specific future time. It is commonly used to indicate scheduled completion, project milestones, and chronological order.

Its precision makes it valuable in both academic and professional contexts, especially when sequencing future actions.

Let’s explore the details to get a solid grasp of this tense.

Future Perfect tense examples:

I will have booked the tickets before you arrive.

She will have finished the report by Monday.

They will have left the hotel by noon.

We will have completed the project by the deadline.

My brother will have cleaned the kitchen before our guests show up.

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Future Perfect formula

The Future Perfect structure is formed by using will have , followed by the past participle of the main verb. For regular verbs, the past participle is typically formed by adding -ed to the base verb. For irregular verbs, the past participle form must be memorized.

Check out these Future Perfect sentences to see how they’re used:

Subject	Examples
I	I will have made significant progress by 5 p.m. tomorrow.
You (singular)	You will have completed the assignment before the deadline.
He	He will have left by the time we arrive.
She	She will have cleaned the house by noon.
It	It will have started raining by the evening.
You (plural)	You will have met all the targets by the end of the month.
We	We will have resolved the issue before next week.
They	They will have moved to a new house by the time we visit.

Tip:

The Future Perfect tense works with all subjects in the same way: I/You/He/She/We/They will have + past participle. There’s no variation based on the subject.

When to use Future Perfect?

We use the Future Perfect to talk about actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. It’s also used to describe events that will have happened by a certain deadline or before another future event occurs. This tense emphasizes completion and timing. It is often used when you want to highlight what will have been done at a certain moment in the future.

Future Perfect examples:

Usage	Examples
Actions completed by a specific time in the future	By next week, we will have signed the contract.
Simultaneous events, where one will be finished before the other starts	By the time you arrive, I will have already left the office.
Actions completed before a deadline	By 8 p.m. tonight, they will have shown the presentation.
Describing future expectations with completion	By this time next year, we will have launched the new product.

Future Perfect tense markers:

Time Indicators	Examples
by + specific time	By 6 p.m., I will have read the entire book.
by the time	By the time we reach the station, they will have already left.
before	I will have called you before the meeting starts.
in + time period	In two hours, I will have completed my tasks.
by + specific deadline	By Friday, I will have written the report.

Tip:

We use the Future Perfect form when we want to express what will have been completed before a specific point in the future. It’s also used to show that one event will be completed before another event happens.

How to use the Future Perfect tense?

We’ve already learned what is Future Perfect and seen many examples of the tense used in positive sentences. Now, let’s look at its negative and question forms, which have their unique structure.

The negative form of the Future Perfect

To create negation in the Future Perfect tense, simply place not after have to form will not have. The structure is as follows:

Future Perfect formula for negative sentences

Future Perfect formula for negative sentences 1

Examples:

We will not have sorted everything out in the next two hours.

They will not have arrived by the time the meeting starts.

She will not have sent the email by Friday.

For more casual and natural speech, will not is often contracted to won’t.

Future Perfect example of negative patterns:

Subject	Full form	Short form
I	I will not have organized the files by 3 p.m.	I won’t have organized the files by 3 p.m.
You (singular)	You will not have cleaned the room by then.	You won’t have cleaned the room by then.
He/She/It	She will not have completed the report by the deadline.	She won’t have completed the report by the deadline.
We	We will not have received the package by Monday.	We won’t have received the package by Monday.
They	They will not have made a decision by the end of the day.	They won’t have made a decision by the end of the day.
You (plural)	You will not have finalized your tasks by the time I get home.	You won’t have finalized your tasks by the time I get home.

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Future Perfect questions

The formula for asking Future Perfect questions is straightforward. You swap the subject and auxiliary verb will have to create questions.

Yes/No Questions

Examples of Yes/No questions:

Question	Answer
Will you have taken care of it by the time I arrive?	Yes, I will have taken care of it by then.
Will she have done all the shopping by tonight?	No, she won’t have done it. She’ll do it tomorrow.
Will they have sent the email by the deadline?	Yes, they will have sent it.

Wh-questions

Examples of Wh-word questions:

Question	Answer
Why won’t they have completed the work by tomorrow?	They won’t have completed the work because they will have started too late.
What will you have done by 5 p.m.?	I will have finished my report by then.
Who will you have called by the time I arrive?	I will have called the client.

Common mistakes with the Future Perfect in English

Since the Perfect Future tense deals with actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future, it can be tricky to master. Here are some common mistakes learners make with this tense.

Using the wrong verb

The Future Perfect requires the use of will have, but learners often make mistakes by using the wrong form of the auxiliary verb.

Incorrect	Correct
By 2025, she will has finished her studies.	By 2025, she will have finished her studies.
I will have ate lunch before I go to the meeting.	I will have eaten lunch before I go to the meeting.

Confusing the Future Perfect with other future tenses

The Future Perfect is often confused with other future tenses, like the Future Simple or Future Continuous. Be careful to distinguish between the use of these tenses to avoid mistakes.

Incorrect	Correct
I will be reaching my destination by this evening.	I will have reached my destination by this evening.
He will do his daily routine at 6 p.m.	He will have done his daily routine by 6 p.m.

Incorrect word order in questions

When forming Perfect Future questions, remember to invert the subject and the auxiliary verb will have.

Incorrect	Correct
Have we will submitted the report before the deadline?	Will we have submitted the report before the deadline?
Have she will prepared the documents by the time the meeting starts?	Will she have prepared the documents by the time the meeting starts?

Using the wrong time expression

The Future Perfect in English is used to indicate actions completed before a specific point in the future. Misusing time markers can cause confusion.

Incorrect	Correct
He will have moved out next week, at the latest.	He will have moved out by next week.
You will have learned the basics before 2025 ends.	You will have learned the basics by the end of 2025.

Tip:

Always remember to use will have followed by the past participle, and avoid confusing the Future Perfect with other future tenses or using incorrect time markers.

Summary

Mastering the Future Perfect meaning and usage will enable you to describe future actions that will be completed by a particular time. This tense is valuable when you need to talk about deadlines, predictions, or events that occur in a specific sequence. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be expressing future events with clarity and confidence!

Future Perfect tense FAQ

What are the most common time expressions with the Future Perfect?

Time expressions like by tomorrow, by next week, by the time, by then, and in a year are often used with the Future Perfect to indicate a specific time when an action will be completed.

They will have renovated the office in two months.

What’s the difference between Future Perfect and Future Simple?

The Future Perfect is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future, while the Future Simple refers to actions that will happen in the future, without a clear sense of completion by a particular time.

Future Perfect	Future Simple
She will have left by the time you arrive.	She will leave at 6 PM.

Can I use will have with all subjects?

Yes, will have can be used with all subjects (I, you, he, she, we, they) to form the Future Perfect tense.

By 2026, they will have expanded the business worldwide.

How do I form negative and question sentences in the Future Perfect tense?

To form a negative sentence in the Future Perfect, use will not have (won’t have). For questions, invert the subject and will.

Negative	Question
I will not have finished by then.	Will you have completed the task by 5 PM?

How to Use the Future Perfect Tense in English

What is the Future Perfect tense?

Future Perfect formula

When to use Future Perfect?