Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

THE FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

370

The future perfect simple is formed with will/shall + have + -ed participle. It is

used when there is reference to something that is seen as already completed before

a certain time.

Future time adverbials are normally required to complete the meaning:

Send a fax to the hotel. He

’ll have left home 

by now

.

Û

539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Future time | 633

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In January I 

will have been at the company 

for twenty years

.

Do you think you

’ll have heard about the job 

by tomorrow

?

THE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

371

The future progressive is formed with will/shall + be + -ing. It is used when there

is reference to something that will be in progress at some specified or understood

time in the future:

Next week

I

’ll be swimming every day in the Caribbean.

I

’ll be having a word with him 

when he returns

.

She

’ll be starting school 

soon

, I suppose.

Don’t worry. I

’ll be waiting for you at the station.

The future progressive is also used to refer to events which are due to happen and

which may result in other events taking place or make other events possible:

I

’ll be seeing the boss tomorrow morning. Do you want me to mention the

promotion?

The future progressive can also be used to soften questions about the future and

make them more polite:

Will you be coming back on Friday night or Saturday morning?