Explanation — Future forms (advanced)

💼 Why it matters at work

By Q4 we will have shipped; this time next week we will be testing. Talking precisely about future stages keeps a project on track. Advanced future forms let you set milestones, manage expectations and sound on top of things.

At B2, English has a rich set of future forms for fine distinctions: completed actions, actions in progress, schedules, and the future in the past.

1. Future perfect & continuous

will have + V3 = finished before a future point; will be + -ing = in progress at a future time; will have been + -ing = duration up to a future point.

→ By Friday we will have finished. / This time tomorrow I will be flying.

2. be to / be about to / be due to

be to + base (formal plans/instructions); be about to (on the point of); be due to (scheduled).

→ The CEO is to announce it. / We are about to leave. / The train is due to arrive.

3. Future in the past & review

For a future seen from the past: was going to / would / was about to. Review: will (decisions/predictions), going to (plans/evidence), present continuous (arrangements), present simple (timetables).

💡 Tip: After when, before, as soon as, by the time use a present (or present perfect) form, never will.

⚠️ Watch out

will have + V3 for completed-by-then; will be + -ing for in-progress.
be due to / be about to / be to are fixed structures.
No will in time clauses.