Future continuous and perfect · Futur continu et parfait
Two more future tenses
- Beyond will and going to, B2 adds two more future tenses.
- Future continuous and future perfect.
- They let you be precise about timing.
By tomorrow, I will have finished the project; my printer may still be considering it.
Deux temps futurs supplémentaires
- Au-delà de will et going to, le niveau B2 ajoute deux autres temps du futur.
- Futur continu et futur antérieur.
- Ils vous permettent d'être précis sur la temporisation.
D'ici demain, j'aurai fini le projet ; ma imprimante sera peut-être encore en train de l'envisager.
Future continuous (will be + -ing)
- will be + verb-ing = an action in progress at a future moment.
- This time tomorrow, I'll be flying to Paris.
- Also polite: Will you be using the car tonight?
Futur continu (will be + -ing)
- will be + verbe-ing = une action en cours à un moment futur.
- Cette même heure demain, je serai en train de voler vers Paris.
- Aussi poli : Will you be using the car tonight ?
Choose: This time tomorrow, I ___ to Paris. · Choisissez : Cette fois demain, je ___ à Paris.
An action in progress at a future moment → future continuous: “will be flying”. · Une action en cours à un moment futur → futur continu : « will be flying ».
Future perfect (will have + past participle)
- will have + past participle = finished before a future point.
- By next year, I will have finished my studies.
- They will have left by the time you arrive.
Futur parfait (will have + participe passé)
- will have + participe passé = terminé avant un point futur.
- D'ici l'année prochaine, j'aurai terminé mes études.
- Ils seront partis au moment où tu arriveras.
In progress, or already finished? · En cours, ou déjà terminé ?
will be doing = in progress at a future moment; will have done = finished before it. · will be doing = en cours à un moment futur ; will have done = terminé avant cela.
Complete: By next year, I will have ___ (finish) my studies. · Complétez : D'ici l'année prochaine, j'aurai ___ (terminer) mes études.
Future perfect = will have + past participle: “will have finished”. · Futur parfait = will have + past participle : « will have finished ».
Does the future perfect describe something completed BEFORE a future time? · Le futur parfait décrit-il quelque chose de terminé AVANT un moment futur ?
Yes — “will have done” = finished before a point in the future. · Oui — « will have done » = terminé avant un point dans le futur.
Translate into English: 到明年,我就会完成学业了。 · Traduisez en anglais : 到明年,我就会完成学业了。
Completed before a future time → future perfect: “… will have finished …”. · Terminé avant un moment futur → futur parfait : « … will have finished … ».
by + a time
- The future perfect often uses by: by 2030, by then, by the time ….
- By midnight, the work will have been done.
by + une date/heure
- Le futur antérieur utilise souvent by : d'ici 2030, d'ici là, au moment où ….
- D'ici minuit, le travail aura été fait.
Common mistakes
- ❌ By 2030, I will finish my degree. → ✓ I will have finished. — by + future time → future perfect.
- ❌ This time tomorrow I will fly to Paris. → ✓ I will be flying. — mid-action at a future moment.
- ❌ will have finish → ✓ will have finished — the participle, always.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ By 2030, I will finish my degree. → ✓ J'will have finished. — by + futur → futur antérieur.
- ❌ This time tomorrow I will fly to Paris. → ✓ Je will be flying. — action en cours à un moment futur.
- ❌ will have finish → ✓ will have finished — le participe passé, toujours.
Match the time phrase to the right form. · Reliez la formule temporelle à la bonne forme.
by → completed before then; this time → in progress then; time clauses stay in the present. · by → terminé avant cela ; this time → en cours alors ; les clauses temporelles restent au présent.
Don't call at 8:00 — we ___ dinner. · N'appellez pas à 8:00 — nous ___ le dîner.
At 8:00 the meal is in progress → will be having. · À 8:00, le repas est en cours → sera en train de manger.
- Future continuous (will be + -ing) = in progress at a future moment.
- Future perfect (will have + p.p.) = completed before a future time.
- The future perfect loves by + a future time.
- Futur continu (will be + -ing) = en cours à un moment futur.
- Futur antérieur (will have + p.p.) = terminé avant un moment futur.
- Le futur antérieur affectionne by + un moment futur.
Make a prediction about the future, using the future continuous (will be + -ing) or the future perfect (will have + past participle). · Faites une prédiction sur le futur, en utilisant le futur continu (will be + -ing) ou le futur parfait (will have + past participle).
Example: “By 2030, cars will have become much cleaner.” · Exemple : « By 2030, cars will have become much cleaner. »