Mr.Maru: Are you finished packing for our big trip yet?

Sparky: I will have been packed all my things by tomorrow.

Mr.Maru: What did you say?

Sparky: I will have been packed all my things by tomorrow.

Mr.Maru: I think you mean – you will have finished by tomorrow.

Sparky: Err, yes, I will have packed all my things by tomorrow.

Mr.Maru: The flight leaves tonight though. The flight will have taken off by the time you are done packing!

Sparky: Right. I guess I'll just leave the 20 cans of premium dog food.

Mr.Maru: I don't think you need the 20 different collars either. We are only going to be there 5 days.

Sparky: It's important to have the right collar.

How do you use the future perfect? When is it appropriate to use it? Are you having trouble with the future perfect (will have)? This grammar point is not used very often but can be useful sometimes.

Future Perfect Tense (will have + past participle)

The future perfect tense is used to talk about something that will complete or be finished by a time in the future. It is not commonly used, but can be useful if you want to specific about when something will be completed. For example,

I'll have completed all of my exams by this Tuesday. (I will finish taking exams by this Tuesday.)
I hope the new bed will have arrived by the time my parents get here. (I really want the new bed to arrive before my parents come.)

This future perfect tense is often used as a warning or advice. For example,

A: The kitchen is on fire. I'm going to go next door and call the fire department.

B: We live in the countryside. The whole house will have burnt down by the time the fire department gets here.
A: You're right. Let's get the water hose.

A: Let's go to Jenny's party.
B: It's too late. It'll have finished by the time we get there.

Be careful! Sometimes in casual or conversation English speakers will not use 'have + past participle'. They will instead use 'will + present tense'. For example,

The whole house will burn down by the time the fire department gets here.
It'll finish by the time we get there.

Although this is incorrect according to prescriptive or formal grammar, it is used often in casual conversation.

Future Perfect Progressive Tense (will have been + ~ing)

The future perfect progressive tense is very similar to the future perfect tense, but it is used to talk about continuous activities. For example,

Jenny will have been working here for 25 years this winter. (In winter, Jenny will have worked 25 years for this company.)
I'll have been writing Teacher Stumpers for 2 years this December.

Do you think you understand? Let's take a short quiz.

1) I __________ two years at this school by the end of this semester.

A) will spend

B) will have spent
C) will have been spending

2) She ____________ English for more than 30 years this fall.

A) will studied

B) will have studied
C) will have been studying

3) A: Let's go to Mega Burgers and get some Super Burgers.
B: Mmm, by the time we get there they ________ already.

A) will close

B) will have closed
C) will have been closing

Answers

1) - B) - We usually don't use 'to spend' in its continuous form.

2) - C) or B) - C) sounds more dynamic.

3) - B) - We can not say 'will have been closing'

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