Verbs: Future Perfect - A souped-up 'time machine' in English Grammar

Introduction

Relevance of the Topic

The future perfect is like a 'grammatical time machine' as it allows us to look at future situations that will have occurred before a certain time. It is a vital resource for the precise expression of time and actions of characters in English. By mastering this verb tense, you will be able to accurately convey events that have not yet happened but are expected to happen in relation to a certain moment in the future.

Contextualization

Verbs in the future perfect are embedded in the study of syntax and verbal grammar in English. They make up a fundamental part of the language's grammar and are a step further in understanding verb tenses. Knowing and understanding the uses and correct formation of the future perfect is crucial for the development of your communication skills in English, especially for constructing complex sentences and expressing future ideas that will occur before a reference point.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Definition: The future perfect is a verb tense that describes actions that will occur and be completed at a specific future point. Comprised of the auxiliary verb 'will' or 'shall', and the main verb in the past participle.

• Formation: To form the future perfect, we use the auxiliary 'will' or 'shall' (according to the subject's person) followed by the main verb in the past participle. Example: 'I will have studied for the exam.' Note that 'have' is an auxiliary form of 'to have' in the simple future, and 'studied' is the past participle of the verb 'to study'.

• Application: The future perfect is used to express actions or events that will be completed before a specific point in the future. For example, 'By the time I graduate, I will have studied for four years.' Here, the action of studying occurs before the future point of graduation.

Key Terms

• Simple future of the verb 'to have': It is the basis on which the future perfect is built. It is formed by using the auxiliary 'will' or 'shall' followed by the main verb 'to have'.

• Past participle: It is the verb form that shows actions that were completed or situations that existed in the past. It is used in the perfect tense (present, past, future) and in the 'perfect continuous' tense. In English, many verbs in the past participle are formed by adding the suffix '-ed' to the infinitive. Example: 'play' (infinitive) -> 'played' (past participle).

Examples and Cases

• Example 1: 'By the time she arrives, they will have eaten dinner.' Here, the verb 'to eat' is in the past participle 'eaten', and the action of having dinner occurs before the future point of arrival.

• Example 2: 'In five years, he will have visited ten different countries.' Here, the verb 'to visit' is in the past participle 'visited', and the action of visiting will occur before the future point of five years.

• Use Case: Write a paragraph describing what you will do in the future before a specific event. For example, 'By the time I turn 30, I will have traveled to at least 10 different countries.'

Detailed Summary

Key Points:

• Characterization of the Future Perfect: The future perfect is a verb tense that describes actions that will occur and be completed at a specific future point. It is formed by using the auxiliary 'will' or 'shall', depending on the subject's person, followed by the main verb in the past participle.

• Involvement of 'to have': The presence of the auxiliary verb 'to have' is essential in the formation of the future perfect. This verb, operating in the simple future, along with the past participle of the main verb, allows the expression of future actions completed before a future reference point.

• Meaning of 'By the time': 'By the time' is a time expression often used to introduce a specific point in the future. When combined with the future perfect, it allows the indication of actions that will occur before that specific point.

• Importance of the Past Participle: The past participle, which is a verb form that indicates actions that were completed or situations that existed in the past, is the key element for constructing the future perfect. Mastering this verb form is vital for the proper use of the future perfect.

Conclusions:

• Versatility of the Future Perfect: The future perfect is a versatile verb tense that allows describing future events that will be completed before a specific future point. Its correct application and formation provide high precision in communication.

• Contextualization of the Future Perfect: Learning and mastering the future perfect allows the expression of complex ideas and scenarios involving future actions in relation to a specific reference point. This skill is essential for constructing narratives and detailed descriptions in English.

Exercises:

1. Formation of the Future Perfect: Write 5 sentences in the future perfect, each using a different verb in the past participle.

2. Interpretation of Sentences: Translate the following sentence into English using the future perfect: 'Quando ela se aposentar, terá trabalhado para a empresa por 30 anos.'

3. Creating Context: Write a short story (minimum of 100 words) that uses at least three occurrences of the future perfect. Create a context and a sequence of actions that illustrate the use of this verb tense.