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Advanced Tense Use

Advanced Tense Use

Reference

Rule Example
Future continuouswill be + -ingat 8 I will be working
Future perfectwill have + PPby 8 I will have finished
Future perfect contwill have been + -ingby June I will have been working 10 years
Signalsat + time / by + future point / for + durationat 8 / by 2030 / for 5 years

Common mistakes

  1. By tomorrow, I will finish the report. → By tomorrow, I will have finished the report.
    "by" + future point → future perfect
  2. This time next week, I will travel. → This time next week, I will be travelling.
    "this time" + future → future continuous
  3. When you arrive, I will already eat. → When you arrive, I will already have eaten.
    "already" + future completion → future perfect

Advanced Tense Use — Exercises

Choose the tense

Circle the correct answer.

  1. By next June, I _____ here for ten years. (will have been living / will be living / am living)
  2. This time tomorrow, we _____ over the Atlantic. (will be flying / will have flown / fly)
  3. By the time you arrive, I _____ dinner. (will have made / will make / make)
  4. Her eyes were red because she _____. (had been crying / was crying / has cried)
  5. When I was little, we _____ visit my grandparents every Sunday. (would / will / were)
  6. I _____ have long hair when I was a child. (used to / would / was used to)
  7. _____ you be using the car this evening? I need it. (Will / Do / Have)
  8. By 9 p.m. she _____ for six hours without a break. (will have been driving / will be driving / drives)

Complete with the correct tense

Write the verb in the correct form.

  1. When we got to the party, everyone   (dance) for hours.
  2. By 2030 they   (finish) the new bridge.
  3. Don't phone at eight — I   (watch) the match.
  4. As a child, he   (spend) hours drawing every day.
  5. By the end of the course, we   (study) together for three years.
  6. I was exhausted because I   (not / sleep) for two days.

Advanced Tense Use — Answer Key

Choose the tense

  1. will have been living — Duration up to a future point → future perfect continuous: will have been living.
  2. will be flying — In progress at a future moment → will be flying.
  3. will have made — Completed before a future point → will have made.
  4. had been crying — An activity before a past moment that explains a result → had been crying.
  5. would — A repeated past action → would (or used to).
  6. used to — A past state (have = possess) → used to, not would.
  7. Will — Polite question about plans → Will you be using…?
  8. will have been driving — How long, up to 9 p.m. → will have been driving.

Complete with the correct tense

  1. had been dancing
  2. will have finished
  3. will be watching
  4. would spend
  5. will have been studying
  6. hadn't slept