Question

by the end of today, i will finish/will have finished chapter two

Skype My English · Accepted Answer

Just 'will' in the simple future is used when we do not set a  specific date or time for completion -It's open ended.  We let spontaneity take care of it -'*****-nilly'. However, by stating a deadline -by the end of the day -, we are using 'will have' -the future perfect tense. Thanks

Anonymous · Answer

Hello, Anonymous:

(1) I shall NOT answer your question as stated because I am not sure. (And we non-experts have been warned

not to post answers unless we are sure pretty sure.)

(2) But I AM sure if you were to arrange your two sentences like this:

I will finish Chapter 2 by the end of the day. (Correct. Very popular English.)

I will have finished Chapter 2 by the end of the day. (Excellent "book English.")

This is what English Review Grammar ( page 54 of the fourth edition) by Mr. Walter Kay Smart says:

"In modern Engish, the future perfect tense has been largely replaced by the simple future tense. Ordinarily a person

would say, 'He will finish the work by next Saturday,' instead of 'He will have finished.' "

*****

And a famous and great grammarian named George Oliver Curme not only tells us that the future perfect is NOT found in

the language of Shakespeare but also gives some examples similar to yours:

I shall [or "will"] have finished the work before you return.

I shall be through with the work before you return.

I shall have the work finished before you return.

The great scholar explains that the last two examples show you that native speakers often try NOT to use the

future perfect. (Volume II of his A Grammar of the English Language . Check the "subject index" for "tense" in order to find the page number for "future perfect.")

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