1. The Future Perfect
is used to say that something will have been done before a
point of time in the future. - "The painters say they’ll have finished the flat by
Friday."
(WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE)
Use the continuous form to emphasise the continuity of a
future achievement: - "I’ll have been teaching for sixteen years this summer."
- "We’ll finish work when you arrive." (We will finish work
then) - "We’ll have finished work by the time you arrive." (We will
finish work before then)
These phrases are often used with the future perfect:
- By... 2 o’clock / Friday / next week / this time next
year / the end of the day
- By the time… I get home / I’m 60 / the plane takes off
- By this time… tomorrow / next week / next month / next
year
- By the end of the… week / month / year
2. The Future Continuous can be
used to say that something will be in progress (happening, going
on) at a particular moment in the future.
- "I’ll be having dinner at 9.30 this evening."
(WILL + BE + ……..ING) - "This time tomorrow I’ll be lying on the beach and
drinking a cold beer."
- "We’re having a meeting at 1 o’clock." (The meeting will
start at that time) - "We’ll be having a meeting at 1 o’clock." (The meeting will
be in progress at that time.)
The Future Continuous can be use to ask polite questions
about people’s plans. When you use it you are asking "What have you
already decided?"
- "Will you be eating with us this evening?"
- "Will you be using your car this weekend?"
- "Will you be passing our flat on the way to the concert? If you
are, maybe you could give us a lift?"
Complete the dialogues with the Present Continuous, Future Continuous or
Future Perfect form.
1) Terry: What are you going to be doing this time next
year? Pete: I (teach)
for a big,
successful English language academy in Tokyo. Terry: I didn't know you were thinking of leaving
Spain. Pete: I got a great job offer with an excellent
salary. Besides, by the time I move, I (live)
in Madrid for more
than six years. I think it's time for a change.
2) Pete: Steph’s been in the kitchen all day long. Terry: I don’t think she’s having a very enjoyable
birthday. Pete: She (cook)
for more than six
and a half hours by the time all the guests arrive for
dinner this evening. I hope she (finish)
everything by then.
Terry: Maybe we should offer to help her?, Y’know
give her a hand with the food? Pete: Nah. We’d only get in the way. Besides, the
football (start) in
a minute.
3) Steph: Did you hear that Andy (go)
on holiday to Asia
this August? Terry: I can't believe how often she goes abroad.
Where exactly does she want to go? Steph: She (visit)
Cambodia, Laos and
Thailand. Terry: At this rate, she (visit)
every country in the
world by the time she retires.
4) Steph: Hurry up Terry! Do you realise how late we
are? By the time we get to the restaurant, everyone (finish,
already) eating. Terry: Don’t blame me, Steph. It's your fault for
taking so long to dry your bloody hair! Steph: I couldn't get it to look right. Terry: What difference does it make? By the time we
get there, everyone (left)
anyway!
5) Pete: It's 7:30, and I have been working on my report
for nearly two and a half hours. Terry: Do you think you (finish)
by 9:00? There's a
darts match on at the pub tonight. Pete: I (probably, do)
the report by 9:00,
but I (work) on it
for more than three and a half hours, and I don't think I am
going to feel like going to a darts match.
Listen to the dialogues to check your answers.
Check your answers
Here are some more ways of talking about the future.
• Modal verbs "I’m not working next Monday, so we may/might/could well
go away for a long weekend."
• To be about to do something "I signed the contract last week, and they’re about to start work
on our new flat."
• To be on the point of doing something "He’s on the point of signing a new contract with Real
Madrid."
• To be on the verge of doing something "I’m on the verge of selling my Ford and buying a Toyota."
• To be likely / unlikely to "There are one or two points that are likely to prevent us
from signing a deal with that company." "She’s unlikely to win an Oscar for her performance."
• To be bound to "He’s bound to get first prize. His work is amazing."
Used in formal speech or writing:
• Is/are to "The President is to visit Afghanistan this week."
• To be due to "The bus to Paris is due to leave at 2:15."
• Set to "Microsoft is set to release their new operating system at
the end of the year."
We can also use some verbs followed by the infinitive (with to)
to talk about the future: