English has several ways to talk about the future, and two of the most useful advanced tenses are the Future Continuous and the Future Perfect.
They can seem confusing at first, but the basic difference is actually quite simple:
Future Continuous = an action will be in progress.
Future Perfect = an action will be finished.
Future Continuous
The Future Continuous is formed with:
will be + verb-ing
We use it to describe an action that will be happening at a particular time in the future.
For example:
At 8 p.m. tonight, I will be watching TV.
This means that when the clock reaches 8 p.m., the action of watching TV will be in progress.
Other examples:
- This time tomorrow, I will be flying to London.
- At 10 a.m., she will be working.
- Next Monday afternoon, we will be having a meeting.
- At midnight, they will be driving home.
The important idea is that we are looking at a moment in the future and imagining what will be happening at that moment.
Think of the Future Continuous as a photograph
Imagine taking a photograph of the future.
At 8 p.m., you look at the picture and see:
I will be watching TV.
The action may have started before 8 p.m., and it may continue after 8 p.m. The important thing is that it is in progress at that particular time.
Future Perfect
The Future Perfect is formed with:
will have + past participle
We use it to describe something that will be completed before a particular time in the future.
For example:
By 8 p.m. tonight, I will have finished my homework.
The homework will be complete before or by 8 p.m.
Other examples:
- By next year, she will have graduated from university.
- By Friday, we will have completed the project.
- By the end of the month, I will have saved enough money.
- By the time you arrive, we will have eaten dinner.
The key word is often by.
By 8 p.m. = at some point before 8 p.m. or no later than 8 p.m.
Think of the Future Perfect as looking backward
Imagine that it is 8 p.m. in the future.
You look backward and say:
I will have finished my homework.
The action is already complete.
The Important Difference: “At” vs. “By”
One of the easiest ways to understand these two tenses is to compare at and by.
Future Continuous: AT
At 8 p.m., I will be studying.
At 8 p.m., the studying will be happening.
Future Perfect: BY
By 8 p.m., I will have finished studying.
Before 8 p.m., the studying will be finished.
Compare these two sentences:
At 10 p.m., I will be working.
The work will be in progress.
By 10 p.m., I will have finished work.
The work will be complete.
Another Easy Example
Imagine you have an English test tomorrow.
You could say:
At 9 a.m. tomorrow, I will be taking my English test.
The test will be happening at 9 a.m.
Or:
By 10 a.m. tomorrow, I will have finished my English test.
The test will be complete by 10 a.m.
The difference is:
Future Continuous → What will be happening?
Future Perfect → What will already be finished?
Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect
Compare these examples:
Future Continuous
This time next week, I will be relaxing on the beach.
The action will be happening at that time.
Future Perfect
By next Friday, I will have completed my final exam.
The action will be finished by that time.
Another example:
Future Continuous
At 6 p.m., she will be cooking dinner.
Future Perfect
By 7 p.m., she will have cooked dinner.
At 6 p.m., cooking is in progress. By 7 p.m., the cooking is complete.
A Simple Rule to Remember
When you are deciding which tense to use, ask yourself one question:
Will the action be happening or finished?
If it will be happening at a particular moment, use the Future Continuous:
I will be working at 3 p.m.
If it will be finished before a particular future time, use the Future Perfect:
I will have finished work by 3 p.m.
Remember:
Future Continuous
will be + -ing
Action in progress
At 5 p.m., I will be studying.
Future Perfect
will have + past participle
Action completed
By 5 p.m., I will have finished studying.
Once you understand the simple idea of “happening” versus “finished,” the difference between these two future tenses becomes much easier to understand and use naturally.
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