Understanding the Meanings and Structures of Future Continuous and Future Perfect Tenses
The future continues |
Future perfect tense |
|
Define |
The future continuous tense is employed to depict an action scheduled to occur at a particular point in the future. The most straightforward indicator of the future continuous tense is the inclusion of a specific time frame within the sentence. |
The future perfect tense is utilized to portray an action that will have been completed by a particular point in the future. |
Structure |
(+) S + will + be + V-ing |
(+) S + will + have + VpII |
(-) S + will + not + be + V-ing |
(-) S + will not + have + VpII |
|
(?) Will + S + be + V-ing? |
(?) Will + S + have + VpII? |
|
(Wh-q) Wh + will + S + be + V-ing? |
(Wh-q) Wh + will + S + have + VpII? |
Differentiate between the usage of two tenses: future perfect and future continuous
The future continues |
Future perfect tense |
Describes an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Example: We will be going on a trip to London at this time next Sunday. |
Expresses that an action will be completed before another action in the future or before a specified time in the future.
Example: I will not have finished my work before the time you come tomorrow. |
Guidelines for distinguishing between the future continuous and future perfect tenses
The future continues |
Future perfect tense |
By … for (+ duration) By then By the time |
By + timeline (by the end of, by tomorrow) By then By the time + timeline |
Future Continuous and Future Perfect Exercises
To develop a clear understanding and distinction between these two tenses, practicing and reviewing through exercises is one of the most effective methods. Below, you’ll find a range of exercises, from basic to advanced, to help reinforce your knowledge with Goodheathplan.com
Exercise 1: Circle the correct answer
1. When we arrive in Los Angeles we’ll need to rest, because we _______ about 800 miles.
a. will be driving
b. will have driven
c. will drive
2. By the time you arrive I _______ something spectacular and dinner will be on the table waiting for you.
a. will cook
b. will have cooked
c. will be cooking
3. When you get off the train, we _______ for you on the platform.
a. ‘ll wait
b. ‘ll be waiting
c. ‘ll have waited
4. We _______ on the first train next Monday.
a. ‘ll be leaving
b. ‘ll have left
c. ‘ll leave
5. When I travel to England next year I ________ English for over four years, so I think I’ll be ready.
a. will study
b. will be studying
c. will have studied
6. Please, come at 8. By that time, I ______ my homework and we can go out.
a. ‘ll finish
b. ‘ll be finishing
c. ‘ll have finished
7. I’m sure when you call him, he _______ TV. He’s always in front of the TV!
a. ‘ll watch
b. ‘ll be watching
c. ‘ll have watched
8. We are visiting a new city every week. By the end of the summer, we _______ all the most important cities in Europe.
a. will visit
b. will be visiting
c. will have visited
9. In less than 2 years, my customer _______ for 50 years. We are going to celebrate it.
a. will have been married
b. will be married
c. will be getting married
10. I’m cleaning the kitchen. By the time you arrive, it _______ spotless.
a. will be
b. will being
c. will have been
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with suitable phrases to complete the sentences
1. Don’t phone between 7 and 8. We ___________________ dinner then.
2. Phone me after 8 o’clock. We __________________ dinner by then.
3. Tomorrow afternoon we’re going to play tennis from 3 o’clock until 4.30. So at 4 o’clock, we ________________ tennis.
4. A: Can we meet tomorrow?
B: Yes, but not in the afternoon. I ___________________.
5. A: What time does the meeting finish? Will you be free at 11.30?
B: Yes, the meeting _____________________ by then.
6. If you need to contact me, I __________________ at the Lion Hotel until Friday.
7. Ben is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like this, he ___________________ all his money before the end of his holiday.
8. Do you think you ___________________ the same job in ten years’ time?
9. Lisa is from New Zealand. She is traveling around Europe at the moment. So far she has traveled about 1,000 miles. By the end of the trip, she ___________ more than 3,000 miles.
10. A: __________________ Laura tomorrow?
B: Yes, probably. Why?
Exercise 3: Give the correct form of the verbs in brackets
1. In twenty years’ time most people _____ (use) the Internet.
2. By this time next year we ______ (move) into our new house.
3. When he retires, he ______ (work) for fifty years.
4. By 2050 holidaymakers _____ (travel) to the Moon.
5. As soon as we reach the coast, we _____ (sail) for a week.
6. They ______ (build) the station by November.
7. I ______ (look) for a new job while you are in Madrid.
8. He will come back in summer. By then he ______ (stay) in Cork for two years.
9. At midnight the speakers ______ (present) their projects for ten hours.
10. When we go to see our kids, they ______ (be) at the camp for a fortnight.
11. In fifty years’ time thousands of species ______ (disappear) from this planet.
12. In a few hours’ time we _____ (sit) on the plane.
13. I’ll meet you at four o’clock. – At four? I’m afraid I _____ (teach) English.
14. We _____ (replace) the wheels before you come back from the shop.
15. I’m sorry, we can’t come tonight. We _____ (watch) the new documentary on TV.
16. By this time next week, he _________ (finish) his art project and he will be able to take a day off.
17. I’m sorry I can’t come.I ____________ (play) soccer at 7:00 pm tomorrow.
18. My boss won’t be at work at 5:50 pm She __________ (go) home already.
19. Between 10:00 and 12:30 tomorrow, I ____________ (have) a meeting so I’ll call you after that.
20. I hope you ____________ (finish) making dinner by the time I get home.
21. I can’t wait! This time next Friday, we __________ (lie) on a beach in California!
22. This article says that by the time you’re 50, you _________ (spend) a total of 16.7 years asleep.
23. Don’t call between 7:00 and 7:30 because I ____________ (have) my piano lesson.
24. Hurry up! The film __________ (start) soon. We can’t miss it!
25. Do you think that Lex __________ (fix) the car by tomorrow?
26. Do you think the teacher ______ (mark) our homework by Tuesday morning?
27. At this moment tomorrow, I _________ (hang out) with my best friends.
28. By March, they______ (be) together for seven years.
29. This time next week I __________ (ski) in Sweden!
30. By this time next year, we _________ (live) in this house for 7 years.
31. Don’t call me at 9 o’clock. I ______ (watch) Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
32. I’m going on holiday on Sunday. This time next week I ________ (lie) on a beach or swimming in the sea.
33. In 1 years’ time, I ______ (finish) university and I’ll be able to earn some money at last.
34. I think astronaut ______ (land) on Mars by the year 2022.
35. A: ______ (use) your bicycle at 9 pm tonight?
B: No. Do you want to borrow it?
36. Kim ______ (finish) these courses next week.
37. When Nam arrives, my family _______ (go) to bed.
38. By the month, my sister _________ (learn) English for 4 years.
39. _______ it _______ (stop) raining by tomorrow evening?
40. By next year, I ________ (live) in Paris for 2 years.
41. My older sister ________ (write) these novels for 8 months by the end of this week.
42. ________ you ________ (live) in Korea for 5 months by the end of this week
43. When his brother arrives, they ______ (have) dinner tomorrow.
44. Tien Cookie _________ (write) a new song by the end of this year.
45. Linh _______ (learn) English for 8 years by the end of this year.
46. Next month is Bean and Lim’s 15th wedding anniversary. They _______ (marry) for 15th years.
47. By the end of the month, Jim ________ (been) LA for 3 years.
48. Hien’s mother ______ (cook) dinner for 2 hours by the time her best friends arrive at her house.
49. Dung ________ (play) tennis to 7 pm
50. By 8 pm, Kien _____ (wait) for his girlfriend for 30 minutes.
Exercise 4: Complete the passage below
Technology is advancing so fast that by the year 2050 who knows what new technologies we 1_____________ (invent). It is quite likely that by 2050 we 2_____________ (use up) most of the earth’s natural resources and so we 3____________ (rely) on wind and solar power. As there will be a shortage of energy, it is quite likely that at that time scientists 4_____________ (try) to find a way for us to live outside the earth. Before the end of the next century, it’s possible that people 5______________ (live) in cities on the Moon or perhaps in cities on the seabed.
By 2050 it’s possible that scientists 6_______________ (already/discover) how to cure diseases such as cancer and, due to the advancement of genetic engineering, maybe hereditary diseases passed down from generation to generation 7______________ (disappear) forever. It is quite possible that by 2050 life expectancy 8_____________ (increase) to 100 and that we 9_________________ (enjoy) a healthier existence.
Another area likely to have been affected by technology in the year 2050 is education. Many students 10________________ (study) online from their homes.
Answer
Exercise 1:
1. b |
2. b |
3. b |
4. a |
5. c |
6. c |
7. b |
8. c |
9. a |
10. a |
Exercise 2:
1. ‘ll be having
2. ‘ll have finished
3. ‘ll be playing
4. ‘ll be working
5. will have finished
6. ‘ll be staying
7. ‘ll have spent
8. will still be doing
9. will have traveled
10. Will you be seeing
Exercise 3:
1. will be using
2. will have moved
3. will have been working
4. will be traveling
5. will have been sailing
6. will have built
7. will be looking
8. will have been staying
9. will have been presented
10. will have been
11. will have disappeared
12. will be sitting
13. will be teaching
14. will have replaced
15. will be watching
16. will have finished
17. will be playing
18. will have gone
19. will be having
20. will have finished
21. will be lying
22. will have spent
23. will be having
24. will be starting
25. will have fixed
26. will have marked
27. will be hanging out
28. will have been
29. will be skiing
30. will have lived
31. will be watching
32. will be lying
33. will have finished
34. will have landed
35. Will you be using
36. will have finished
37. will have gone
38. will have been learning
39. Will it have rained
40. will have been living
41. will have been writing
42. Will you have been living
43. will have had
44. will have written
45. will have been learning
46. will have been married
47. will have been
48. will have been cooking
49. will have played
50. will have been waiting
Exercise 4:
1. will have invented
2. will have used up
3. will be evaluating
4. will be trying
5. will be living
6. will have already discovered
7. will have disappeared
8. will have increased
9. will be enjoying
10. will be studying
By utilizing the knowledge and exercises that we’ve presented above, you’ve gained the experience to distinguish between the future continuous and the future perfect tenses.
We wish you success in your studies!
Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.