In this lesson from the free English grammar course from Simply IELTS, you will learn the structure and formula of the future perfect tense and how to use it in the IELTS exam.

What is the formula of the Future perfect tense?

The future perfect tense is used to describe an action or event that will be completed at a specific time in the future, before another action or event takes place. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” followed by the verb “have” and the past participle form of the main verb.

Here are a few rules for using the future perfect tense:

1. Use the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” followed by the verb “have” and the past participle form of the main verb. The past participle form of a verb is typically the base form of the verb plus -ed, but there are many irregular verbs with different past participle forms. For example: “I will have finished,” “she will have studied,” “they will have eaten.”
2. Use the future perfect tense to describe an action or event that will be completed at a specific time in the future, before another action or event takes place. For example: “I will have finished my homework before 6:00,” “she will have studied for her exams before 7:00,” “they will have eaten lunch before 8:00.”

Examples of the future simple tense

Here are a few examples of the future perfect tense in action:

• I will have finished my homework before the phone rings.
• She will have studied for her exams before I see her.
• They will have eaten lunch before the storm starts.

In the negative form, the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” is followed by “not” and the verb “have” and the past participle form of the main verb. For example:

• I will not have finished my homework before the phone rings.
• She will not have studied for her exams before I see her.
• They will not have eaten lunch before the storm starts.

In the question form, the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” is placed before the subject and the verb “have” and the past participle form of the main verb is placed after the subject. For example:

• Will I have finished my homework before the phone rings?
• Will she have studied for her exams before I see her?
• Will they have eaten lunch before the storm starts?

How to use future perfect tense in IELTS exam?

To use the future perfect tense in the IELTS exam, it is important to use it correctly and consistently in your writing and speaking tasks. Make sure to use the correct form of the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” and the verb “have” and the past participle form of the main verb.

Use the future perfect tense to describe an action or event that will be completed at a specific time in the future, before another action or event takes place. Make sure not to mix tenses within a sentence or paragraph.

Examples of using future perfect tense in IELTS exam

Here are a few examples of how you might use the present perfect tense in the IELTS exam:

Writing Task 1:

“By the time I start cooking dinner at 6:00 tomorrow evening, I will have finished all of my errands for the day. My husband will also have finished his work and will be ready to relax on the couch.”

Speaking part 2 (cue cards):

“By the time I go on my trip to the countryside next weekend, I will have visited my parents several times. They will have shown me around their new house and we will have spent some quality time together.”

Writing Task 2:

“Many people believe that technology will have taken over our lives in the future. While it is true that technology has become more prevalent in recent years, I do not think it will have completely taken over. There will still be many people who will have lived simple lives and will not have relied on technology as much as others.”

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