Looking back from a point in the future

Examples

1. By the end of the month we will have paid off the loan.

2. In July she will have been teaching here for twenty years.

3. This time next week I will be sitting in a different office.

4. They will not have received the letter by Friday.

Common mistakes

• ✗Wrong: By March we will finish the work.

  ✓Right: By March we will have finished the work.

  By a future date asks for the future perfect, because it means completed before then.

• ✗Wrong: Next year I will live here for ten years.

  ✓Right: Next year I will have been living here for ten years.

  A length of time measured up to a future point takes the future perfect continuous.

• ✗Wrong: This time tomorrow I will fly to Rome.

  ✓Right: This time tomorrow I will be flying to Rome.

  At a named future moment, use will + be + -ing for what is in progress.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

   1. ABy six o’clock they left the building.
   2. BBy six o’clock they will be leaving the building.
   3. CBy six o’clock they will leave the building.
   4. DBy six o’clock they will have left the building.
   Show answer

   Answer: D By six o’clock they will have left the building.

   By six means complete before six, which is the future perfect.

2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AIn August I will have been driving for thirty years.
   2. BIn August I will be driving for thirty years.
   3. CIn August I will drive for thirty years.
   4. DIn August I have been driving for thirty years.
   Show answer

   Answer: A In August I will have been driving for thirty years.

   A running total up to a future date is the future perfect continuous.

3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

   1. ADo not ring at nine; I will have driven.
   2. BDo not ring at nine; I will be driving.
   3. CDo not ring at nine; I drive.
   4. DDo not ring at nine; I will have been driven.
   Show answer

   Answer: B Do not ring at nine; I will be driving.

   At nine the driving will be in progress, so will + be + -ing.

4. 4Fill in the gap.

   By the time you read this, I will _____ gone.

   1. Abe already
   2. Bhave already
   3. Chave been already
   4. Dalready
   Show answer

   Answer: B By the time you read this, I will have already gone.

   The going is complete before the reading.

5. 5Fill in the gap.

   Next month the shop _____ open for exactly one year.

   1. Awill have been
   2. Bwill be
   3. Cis
   4. Dwill have
   Show answer

   Answer: A Next month the shop will have been open for exactly one year.

   A period completed by a future point: future perfect.

6. 6Fill in the gap.

   At this time on Sunday we _____ somewhere over France.

   1. Awill fly
   2. Bwill have flown
   3. Cfly
   4. Dwill be flying
   Show answer

   Answer: D At this time on Sunday we will be flying somewhere over France.

   A named future moment with an action in progress.

7. 7Fill in the gap.

   They _____ the results before the end of term.

   1. Ado not publish
   2. Bwill not be published
   3. Cwill not publishing
   4. Dwill not have published
   Show answer

   Answer: D They will not have published the results before the end of term.

   Negative future perfect: will not have + past participle.

8. 8Fill in the gap.

   By next Christmas we _____ in this flat for five years.

   1. Ahave lived
   2. Bwill have been living
   3. Cwill be living
   4. Dwill live
   Show answer

   Answer: B By next Christmas we will have been living in this flat for five years.

   Duration up to a future date.

9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

   Which sentence is wrong?

   1. ABy Friday I will finish the report.
   2. BI will finish the report on Friday.
   3. CI will be finishing the report on Friday.
   4. DBy Friday I will have finished the report.
   Show answer

   Answer: A By Friday I will finish the report.

   By Friday needs the future perfect; on Friday does not.

10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. AThis time tomorrow I will be sitting on a beach.
    2. BTomorrow I will sit on the beach.
    3. CThis time tomorrow I will have sat on a beach.
    4. DBy tomorrow I will have arrived.
    Show answer

    Answer: C This time tomorrow I will have sat on a beach.

    At a named moment the action is in progress, not complete.