Future continuous and perfect
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.
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?
Choose: This time tomorrow, I ___ to Paris.
An action in progress at a future moment → future continuous: “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.
In progress, or already finished?
will be doing = in progress at a future moment; will have done = finished before it.
Complete: By next year, I will have ___ (finish) my studies.
Future perfect = will have + past participle: “will have finished”.
Does the future perfect describe something completed BEFORE a future time?
Yes — “will have done” = finished before a point in the future.
Translate into English: 到明年,我就会完成学业了。
Completed before a future time → future perfect: “… 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.
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.
Match the time phrase to the right form.
by → completed before then; this time → in progress then; time clauses stay in the present.
Don't call at 8:00 — we ___ dinner.
At 8:00 the meal is in progress → will be having.
- 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.
Make a prediction about the future, using the future continuous (will be + -ing) or the future perfect (will have + past participle).
Example: “By 2030, cars will have become much cleaner.”