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Ch 3

Future Perfect &
Future Continuous

Completed and ongoing actions in the future
B2 · FCE Cambridge

Two future tenses — what's the difference?

Same 'will' base, but different focus
1
Future Perfect
will + have + past participle
Action COMPLETED before a future time
2
Future Continuous
will + be + verb-ing
Action IN PROGRESS at a future time

Future Perfect

Actions completed BEFORE a specific future time
will + have + past participle → will have finished
Common markers: by + time · in two weeks / months / years

Use the future perfect to say an action will be completed before a certain point in the future. Often used with 'by' + specific time, or with a duration.

The painters will have finished by Thursday.
Completed by a deadline
In one year, they will have built the new road.
Completed in a duration
By 2030, she will have graduated.
Future time point
Watch out: 'will finish' = action happens later; 'will have finished' = already done by then.

Future Continuous

Actions IN PROGRESS at a specific future time
will + be + verb-ing → will be studying
Common markers: at + time · this time tomorrow / next week

Use the future continuous to describe an action that will be happening at a specific moment in the future. The action starts before and continues after that moment.

We will be doing exercise at 7:30.
In progress at a time
This time tomorrow, I'll be flying to Rome.
Progress at a future moment
Don't call at 8 — I'll be having dinner.
Ongoing future activity
Watch out: Stative verbs (know, believe, understand) don't take continuous form.

Perfect vs Continuous — side by side

Two ways to look at the same future moment
Future Perfect · Completed BEFORE
By 9 pm, I'll have finished dinner.
→ The action is finished.
In June, we'll have lived here for 10 years.
→ Total completed duration.
Future Continuous · In progress AT
At 9 pm, I'll be eating dinner.
→ The action is happening.
In June, we'll be travelling in Asia.
→ Ongoing activity.

Time expressions — your signal words

These markers tell you which tense to use
Future Perfect signals
byby Friday, by 2030
by the timeby the time we arrive
in (duration)in two weeks, in a year
beforebefore next Monday
Future Continuous signals
atat 9 pm, at noon
this timethis time tomorrow
whenwhen you arrive
in (future)in ten minutes

Common mistakes — FCE Traps

Errors that appear in Cambridge exam writing
I will finish by Thursday
→
I will have finished by Thursday
'By' + time needs future perfect
At 9 pm I will eat dinner
→
At 9 pm I will be eating dinner
'At' + specific time = future continuous
By next year I will live here
→
By next year I will have lived here
Duration up to future point = future perfect
This time tomorrow I flying
→
This time tomorrow I'll be flying
Needs 'will be + -ing'
I will have knowing by then
→
I will know by then
Stative verbs don't take continuous

Summary

Future Perfect
will + have + past participle
By Sunday, they'll have finished.
Future Continuous
will + be + verb-ing
At 7 pm, I'll be studying.
Perfect signals
by + time · in + duration
by Friday, in two weeks
Continuous signals
at + time · this time...
at 9 pm, this time tomorrow
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