6. Future Time Clauses, Future Perfect and Future Perfect Progressive

1) Future Time Clauses (after, before, once, when, until, as soon as, by the time)

present in the time clause

Key rule: In a future time clause, use present forms (NOT will).

Time clause: after / before / once / when / until / as soon as / by the time + present
Main clause: can use will, be going to, or future progressive
You can use present perfect in the time clause to emphasize completion: after they have finished...

Once a company starts using automation, it will serve more customers.

We won’t start until all employees are trained.

After companies have moved to automation, they will receive support.

Comma: If the time clause comes first, use a comma. If it comes last, no comma.

Practice A — Future time clauses (present in the time clause)

1 Once a company using automation, it more customers. (start / serve)

2 Companies saving money as soon as they to automation. (start / move)

3 After companies moved to automation, they better technological support. (have / receive)

4 We won’t start using the software until all employees trained. (be)

5 I’ll find a good job after I . (graduate)

6 That figure won’t change until people confident that their jobs will be secure. (be)

7 After we the report, we will email it. (finish)

2) When and While for Ongoing Future Events

same time / interruption

Use will be + V-ing in the main clause to show an ongoing future action.
In the when/while clause, use simple present (or present progressive if you want to show the time-clause action is in progress).
When can show interruption: the second event happens during the ongoing event.

I’ll be taking my vacation while the company moves to its new office.

We’ll be meeting when he arrives. (He arrives during the meeting.)

The staff is going to wait outside while we are discussing the budget.

Practice B — When / While + correct tense

8 I’ll be taking my vacation the company to its new office. (move)

9 The staff is going to wait outside while we . (discuss)

10 We’ll be meeting when he . (arrive)

11 When Sara , I her. (arrive / introduce)

12 While you Dan’s page, I’ll think about some ideas. (analyze)

3) Future Perfect

will have + V3

Form: will have + past participle (V3)

Use it for an action that will be completed by a future time (often with by or by the time).

By 2025, many companies will have eliminated some jobs.

By the time Kyle arrives, the meeting will have started.

Negative: The team won’t have finished the project.

Practice C — Future Perfect (completed by a time)

13 By 11:00, Katie the report. (finish)

14 By the time Kyle , the meeting . (arrive / start)

15 By 12:40, the meeting . (end)

16 By 6:45, Kyle and his family dinner yet. (not/eat)

17 Will you the project by next week? (finish)

4) Future Perfect Progressive

will have been + V-ing

Form: will have been + V-ing

Use it for an action that will be in progress up to a future time. It emphasizes duration (often with for).

By 4:30, Eric will have been working for eight hours.

By 2025, our company will have been using bots for ten years.

Important: Don’t use future perfect progressive with stative verbs (know, have, hear, believe). Use future perfect instead.

Practice D — Future Perfect Progressive (duration)

18 By 4:30 on Tuesday, Eric for eight hours. (work)

19 By 5:00 on Friday, Eric software training for three days. (attend)

20 By 7:15 on Friday, Eric at the gym for 75 minutes. (work out)

21 By next June, they there very long. (not/live)

22 Correct the stative verb form: She about it by then. (know)

5) Avoid Common Mistakes

quick fixes

Time clause: use present (not will).
Future perfect: use will have + V3 for “completed by…”
Future perfect progressive: use will have been + V-ing for duration.
Stative verbs: avoid “will have been knowing”; use “will have known.”

Practice E — Fix the common mistakes

23 We will buy it after we back from our trip. (get)

24 By this time next year, she a better job. (get)

25 In June, we will have been in Texas for two years. (live)

26 By this time next year, they the project. (finish)

Show all answers

starts ; will serve
will start ; move
have ; will receive
are
graduate
are
finish
while ; moves
are discussing
arrives
arrives ; will introduce / will be introducing
analyze / are analyzing
will have finished
arrives ; will have started
will have ended
won't have eaten
have finished
will have been working
will have been attending
will have been working out
won't have been living
will have known
get
will have gotten / will have got
living
will have finished