Grammar – Future Perfect and Future Continuous
Future Continuous
I’m studying. (present continuous)
This time last week, I was travelling. (past continuous)
This time next week, I’ll be singing. (future continuous)
Form: will be / won’t be + -ing
We use the Future Continuous to talk about something that will be in progress
at a definite time in the future.
We often use it with time phrases which specify the time, e.g. at 9:30p.m., this
time tomorrow, etc.
Future Perfect
I’ve already had breakfast. (present perfect)
By this time yesterday, I’d already brushed my teeth. (past perfect)
By this time tomorrow, I’ll already have taken my dog for a walk. (future perfect)
Form: will have / won’t have + past participle (3rd form)
We use the Future Perfect to describe something which will/won’t be finished
before a definite time in the future.
We often use it with time phrases like by this time next week, by the end of next
month, by the time you …, within the next year, etc.
Put the verb into the correct form, will be (do)ing or will have (done).
1 I will be living (live) in a different place a year from now.
2 I will have made (make) a phone call by 9 o’clock this evening.
3 I will have travelled (travel) the world by the time I’m 50.
4 I will be studying (study) at 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
5 I will have got (get) married within the next five years.
6 I will be sleeping (sleep) at 11 o’clock tonight.
7 I will have bought (buy) something expensive by the end of this month.
8 I will be watching (watch) TV at 8 o’clock this evening.
Change the sentences to make them true for you.
Put the verb into the correct form, will be (do)ing or will have (done).
1 Don’t phone between 7 and 8. We’ll be eating then. (we / eat)
2 Tomorrow afternoon we’re going to play tennis from 3 o’clock until 4.30. So at 4
o’clock, we’ll be playing tennis. (we / play)
3 Sarah will meet you at the station. She’ll be waiting for you when you arrive.
(she / wait)
4 The meeting starts at 9.30 and won’t last longer than an hour. You can be sure
that it will have finished by 11 o’clock. (it / finish)
5 Do you think you’ll still be living in the same place in ten years’ time? (you /
still / live)
6 Lisa is travelling in Europe and so far she has travelled about 1,000 miles. By the
end of the trip, she will have travelled more than 3,000 miles. (she / travel)
7 If you need to contact me, I’ll be staying at the Lion Hotel until Friday. (I / stay)
8 Ben is on holiday and is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like
this, he’ll have spent all his money before the end of his holiday. (he / spend)
9 I’m fed up with my job. I hope I won’t be doing it much longer. (I / not / do)
10 There’s an election next week. Who will you be voting for? (you / vote)
Complete the dialogues using the Future Perfect or Future Continuous forms
of the verbs in brackets.
1 A: Will you be going on holiday next July?
B: No, I’ll be going (I / go) in August instead.
2 A: Will Mr Simpson be able to see me between four and five?
B: No, I’m afraid he’ll be seeing (he / see) another client then.
3 A: Can we start work on the building site next January?
B: Yes, will have received (we / receive) planning permission by then.
4 A: Will the children be joining you for the summer?
B: Yes, they’ll be staying (they / stay) with us from July to September.
5 A: Can we meet in the office tomorrow?
B: No, I’ll be working (I / work) at home all day tomorrow.
6 A: How are you getting on with the decorating?
B: Pretty well. By the end of the month we will have finished (we / finish) most
of it.
7 A: Can I watch the cartoons, Mum?
B: No. You can wait until after dinner.
A: But they will have finished (they / finish) by then!
8 A: Do you think we’ll get there in time?
B: No, I don’t. By the time we get there, the train will have left (the train / leave).
9 A: Next week’s going to be really busy.
B: Not for me! This time next week I will be sunbathing (I / sunbathe) on a beach
in Sardinia.
10 A: I don’t want to spend hours waiting for her at the airport.
B: Don’t worry. I’m sure Jan will have arrived (Jan / arrive) by the time we get
there.
