Look at these examples to see how the future continuous and future perfect are used.
In three years' time, I'll be studying medicine.
In five years' time, I'll have finished studying medicine.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Future continuous
We can use the future continuous (will/won't be + -ing form) to talk about future actions that:
- will be in progress at a specific time in the future:
When you come out of school tomorrow, I'll be boarding a plane.
Try to call before 8 o'clock. After that, we'll be watching the match.
You can visit us during the first week of July. I won't be working then.
- we see as new, different or temporary:
Today we're taking the bus but next week we'll be taking the train.
He'll be staying with his parents for several months while his father is in recovery.
Will you be starting work earlier with your new job?
Future perfect
We use the future perfect simple (will/won't have + past participle) to talk about something that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
The guests are coming at 8 p.m. I'll have finished cooking by then.
On 9 October we'll have been married for 50 years.
Will you have gone to bed when I get back?
We can use phrases like by or by the time (meaning 'at some point before') and in or in a day's time / in two months' time / in five years' time etc. (meaning 'at the end of this period') to give the time period in which the action will be completed.
I won't have written all the reports by next week.
By the time we arrive, the kids will have gone to bed.
I'll have finished in an hour and then we can watch a film.
In three years' time, I'll have graduated from university.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hi LitteBlueGreat,
Yes, sure. I mean that for this sentence ("In three years' time, I'll be studying medicine."), I expect most people will understand it to have the meaning I explained in my first comment - the studying will be in progress at that time (i.e. the person will have started studying before that time, and will continue studying after it).
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks a lot for your favor Sir, Really great explanations
Hi GiulianaAndy,
In these sentences, then means 'that time' or 'at that time'. It refers to a time that was mentioned earlier in the conversation ('the first week of July' / '8 p.m.'). So, the speaker doesn't need to repeat that information.
No, it's not directly required by these particular tenses. But more generally, these tenses are often used with references to a specific future time (using then or other words) to make their meaning clear.
Have a look at this Cambridge Dictionary page for more examples. I hope it helps!
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
an easily understood explanation but I hope you give me other explanations again, here :
Try to call before 8 o'clock. After that, we'll be watching the match.
So, What does "That" in "After That" refer to?
A. Activity of calling itself
B. The time after 8 o'clock
Thanks
Hi LitteBlueGreat,
It probably refers to A, the call. To refer to a time, the reference word is normally 'then' --> After then, we'll be watching the match.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks a lot sir and sorry for replying the comment wrongly ^_^
Hi LitteBlueGreat,
No problem :)
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
But again sir, in relation to my second question above.
Considering the lack of the reason the speaker gives suggestion to their freind to call before 8 o'clock and what will actually happens at 8 oclock
Is it possible that I infer that the match will start at 8 oclock so that they will not be disturbed by any other activity (i.e calling) ?
Hi LitteBlueGreat,
Yes, definitely! I think that is the most likely interpretation.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team