Future Perfect in the Past
Watch four videos using the future perfect in conversation.
Conversation 1
Woman: Oh no, I forgot my handouts.
Man: Should I call Sue at the office to bring them?
Woman: No. She'll have left by now.
Man: What about David?
Woman: No. He'll have already clocked out, too.
Man: Oh no. So what should we do?
Woman: We'll have to do without them, I guess.
Conversation 2
Woman: Want to go get some pizza?
Man: I think it's too late.
Woman: No, I think City Pizza is still open.
Man: No, it will have closed by now.
Woman: Are you sure?
Man: Yeah, I am positive. They closed at 10.
Conversation 3
Man: Where is Susan?
Woman: She went to the movies.
Man: Bummer. I want her to call her.
Woman: Well the movie started at five, so we'll have finished by now.
Man: Yeah, I guess I really need to ask her something.
Woman: Yeah, give her a call.
Conversation 4
Woman: Where's Joe?
Man: He went to the gym to work out.
Woman: Oh. Maybe I can go work out with him.
Man: I think he'll have finished by now.
Woman: Yeah, probably.
Man: Maybe next time.
Future Perfect in the Past
- Is Beth at the office?
She’ll have left by now. - Is the movie still playing?
The movie will have ended by now. - Is the game on TV?
It will have finished by now.
will + have + past participle.
- The meeting will have ended by now.
- Everyone at the party will have left by now.
- The milk will have expired by now.
- Is Susan still working on the project?
She will have finished by now. - Is Joe still working out in the gym?
He will have finished by now.
- It’ll have finished by now.
- She’ll have finished by now.
- He’ll have finished by now.
There are two ways to say this form related to the past. Both 'will' and 'would' can be spoken, but 'will' is easier to say so more common.
- He will have left by now.
- He would have left by now.
- The game will have finished by now.
- The game would have finished by now.
