Future Perfect

Future Perfect has two different forms: “will have done” and “be going to have done.” Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect with “Will”

[will have + past participle]

FORM Future Perfect with “Be Going To”

[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

NOTE: It is possible to use either “will” or “be going to” to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.

Complete List of Future Perfect Forms

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

 

The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

 

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.

Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words “live,” “work,” “teach,” and “study” are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

More About Active / Passive Forms

Future Continuous Forms

Using “Will”

Positive	Negative	Question
I will be waiting. You will be waiting. We will be waiting. They will be waiting. He will be waiting. She will be waiting. It will be waiting.	I will not be waiting. You will not be waiting. We will not be waiting. They will not be waiting. He will not be waiting. She will not be waiting. It will not be waiting.	Will I be waiting? Will you be waiting? Will we be waiting? Will they be waiting? Will he be waiting? Will she be waiting? Will it be waiting?

Using “Be Going To”

Positive	Negative	Question
I am going to be waiting. You are going to be waiting. We are going to be waiting. They are going to be waiting. He is going to be waiting. She is going to be waiting. It is going to be waiting.	I am not going to be waiting. You are not going to be waiting. We are not going to be waiting. They are not going to be waiting. He is not going to be waiting. She is not going to be waiting. It is not going to be waiting.	Am I going to be waiting? Are you going to be waiting? Are we going to be waiting? Are they going to be waiting? Is he going to be waiting? Is she going to be waiting? Is it going to be waiting?

Future Continuous

Future Continuous has two different forms: “will be doing ” and “be going to be doing.” Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Continuous with “Will”

[will be + present participle]

FORM Future Continuous with “Be Going To “

[am/is/are + going to be + present participle]

REMEMBER: It is possible to use either “will” or “be going to” to create the Future Continuous with little difference in meaning.

Complete List of Future Continuous Forms

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future

 

Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Notice in the examples above that the interruptions (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses (No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used) and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

 

In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by a short action in the future. In addition to using short actions as interruptions, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

REMEMBER

In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In the Future Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.

USE 3 Parallel Actions in the Future

 

When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

USE 4 Atmosphere in the Future

In English, we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere at a specific point in the future.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future tenses, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Continuous, Present Continuous is used.

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Continuous are not common.

More About Active / Passive Forms