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Eagerness Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

The Future Perfect Tense or Simple Future

Which of the two future tenses above is more appropriate to use in the below sentences, and why?

"By the time you come back, the coffe will be ready".
"By the time you come back, the coffe will have been ready".

Thank you in advance for your insight.
  

Top answer

It should be the first. Placing ourselves at the future time when he comes back, the appropriate statement is "the coffe e is ready", not "the coffee has been ready". Transferring this back to the present gives "will be ready", not "will have been ready".

— Mr Wordy

  • It should be the first.
  • Placing ourselves at the future time when he comes back, the appropriate statement is "the coffe e is ready", not "the coffee has been ready".
  • Transferring this back to the present gives "will be ready", not "will have been ready".
  • In contrast, consider "By the time you come back, I will have finished".
  • In this case the appropriate statement, at the time he comes back, is "I have finished".
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1 Answers
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It should be the first.

Placing ourselves at the future time when he comes back, the appropriate statement is "the coffee is ready", not "the coffee has been ready". Transferring this back to the present gives "will be ready", not "will have been ready".

In contrast, consider "By the time you come back, I will have finished". In this case the appropriate statement, at the
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