Futuro Perfeito do Indicativo (Future Perfect Indicative Tense)
The futuro perfeito do indicativo is used to describe actions that will have been completed before a certain point in the future.
It is a compound tense formed with the auxiliary verb ter (to have) in the future indicative + the past participle of the main verb.
Mood
The indicative mood expresses actions that are factual and certain.
The future perfect tense in the indicative mood expresses actions that will be finished before another future event or time.
- Indicative mood = certainty, facts, reality
- Future perfect = action completed before a future reference point
Formation
The auxiliary verb ter is conjugated in the future indicative, followed by the past participle.
This structure is the same for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.
| Person | AR Example (falar) | ER Example (comer) | IR Example (partir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eu (I) | terei falado | terei comido | terei partido |
| Tu (you, sg.) | terás falado | terás comido | terás partido |
| Ele/Ela/Você | terá falado | terá comido | terá partido |
| Nós (we) | teremos falado | teremos comido | teremos partido |
| Vós (you, pl.) | tereis falado | tereis comido | tereis partido |
| Eles/Elas/Vocês | terão falado | terão comido | terão partido |
Usage
- Action completed before another future event:
Quando você chegar, eu já terei terminado o trabalho.
(When you arrive, I will have already finished the work.) - Speculation about the past from a future perspective:
Ele terá esquecido de ligar.
(He will have forgotten to call.)
Irregular Verbs
The conjugation of ter remains regular, but some main verbs have irregular past participles:
| Verb | Past Participle | Example (Eu form) |
|---|---|---|
| fazer (to do/make) | feito | eu terei feito |
| ver (to see) | visto | eu terei visto |
| escrever (to write) | escrito | eu terei escrito |
| abrir (to open) | aberto | eu terei aberto |
Brazilian Portuguese Differences
- Form & usage:
The future perfect is structurally the same in BP and EP. However, in BP, it is less common in everyday speech. Speakers often replace it with the periphrastic future (ir + infinitive) combined with the perfect construction when possible:- BP informal: Eu vou ter terminado quando você chegar.
- EP common: Eu terei terminado quando você chegar.
- Pronouns:
- BP often uses você instead of tu, changing the auxiliary form:
- BP: Você terá terminado
- EP: Tu terás terminado
- BP often uses você instead of tu, changing the auxiliary form:
Common Time Expressions
- Até lá (by then)
- Antes de (before)
- Quando (when)
- Até o fim do mês (by the end of the month)
Examples
- Nós já teremos terminado quando você chegar.
(We will have finished when you arrive.) - Ela terá concluído o projeto até o fim do mês.
(She will have completed the project by the end of the month.) - Quando eles tiverem estudado, farão o teste.
(When they have studied, they will take the test.)
