French grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
The futur antérieur: will have done
How to form the futur antérieur, when French needs it after quand and dès que, and how it becomes the conditionnel passé in reported speech.
How to form it
The (future perfect) is or in the futur simple + the past participle. The same verbs take as in the passé composé, with the same agreement.
| Subject | (with ) | (with ) |
|---|---|---|
| (j') | je serai parti(e) | |
| tu seras parti(e) | ||
| / / | ||
| nous serons parti(e)s | ||
| vous serez parti(e)(s) | ||
| / |
Finished before a moment in the future
It says that something will be finished before another moment in the future, often with (by) or : (By Friday, I'll have finished).
After , (when), , (as soon as) and (once), French uses it where English uses the present perfect: (I'll call you as soon as I've arrived). English says “I've arrived”, but French needs a future tense.
- Quand tu auras lu ce livre, tu me le prêteras ?When you've read this book, will you lend it to me?
- Une fois que nous aurons reçu votre paiement, nous vous enverrons la commande.Once we have received your payment, we will send you the order.
Two other uses
It can express a guess about the past, like in the passé composé: (He isn't here? He must have forgotten).
In reported speech after a verb in the past, it becomes the conditionnel passé: →