> Futur II is the German future perfect tense used to indicate that an action will have been completed by a certain point in the future.
The Futur II (Future Perfect) tense in German is used to express that an action will have been completed by a specific point in the future. It is often accompanied by time expressions that indicate a deadline or a point in the future by which something will have happened.
The structure is:
- werden (in the present tense) + past participle + auxiliary verb (haben or sein) in the infinitive form at the end.
For example:
Ich werde das Buch gelesen haben.
(I will have read the book.)
How to Form Futur II
Creating sentences in Futur II involves three main components:
- Conjugate werden in the present tense according to the subject.
- Use the past participle of the main verb.
- Add the auxiliary verb (haben or sein) in its infinitive form at the end.
Verb example: fertig machen (to finish)
- Ich werde das Projekt fertig gemacht haben.
(I will have finished the project.)
Labeled Conjugation Table
| German Pronoun | Conjugation of werden | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ich | ich werde | Ich werde das Buch gelesen haben. |
| du | du wirst | Du wirst das Buch gelesen haben. |
| er/sie/es | er/sie/es wird | Er wird das Buch gelesen haben. |
| wir | wir werden | Wir werden das Buch gelesen haben. |
| ihr | ihr werdet | Ihr werdet das Buch gelesen haben. |
| sie/Sie | sie/Sie werden | Sie werden das Buch gelesen haben. |
Auxiliary verb (haben/sein) comes at the end in its infinitive form, following the past participle.
How to Use Futur II
1. Action Completed Before a Future Time
Use Futur II to indicate that an action will be finished before a specific future moment.
- Bis morgen werden wir die Aufgabe erledigt haben.
(By tomorrow, we will have completed the task.)
2. Expressing Assumptions About the Past (from a Future Viewpoint)
Futur II can also be used to make assumptions about what has happened, especially in formal or written German.
- Er wird das Paket schon erhalten haben.
(He will probably have already received the package.)
3. Emphasizing the Completion of a Process
Use it to stress that a process will be entirely completed by a certain point in time.
- In einem Jahr wirst du dein Studium abgeschlossen haben.
(In one year, you will have completed your studies.)
Time Expressions Commonly Used with Futur II
| German | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| bis morgen | by tomorrow | Indicates a deadline |
| bis nächste Woche | by next week | Indicates a deadline |
| in zwei Stunden | in two hours | Indicates a future point |
| irgendwann | at some point | Vaguer time reference |
| spätestens | at the latest | Emphasizes a deadline |
Example:
Bis nächste Woche werden wir fertig gebaut haben.
(By next week, we will have finished building.)
Example Sentences with Breakdown
| German Sentence | English Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich werde das Buch gelesen haben. | I will have read the book. | Action of reading will be completed before a future time. |
| Du wirst das Auto repariert haben. | You will have repaired the car. | Future completion of repairing the car. |
| Wir werden das Haus verlassen haben. | We will have left the house. | Indicates the house will be vacated by a future time. |
| Sie wird das Problem gelöst haben. | She will have solved the problem. | Problem-solving action will be done. |
| Ihr werdet die Aufgabe beendet haben. | You all will have finished the task. | Task will be completed by a certain point. |
Common Mistakes
1. Using the Simple Future Instead of Futur II for Completed Actions
- ❌ Ich werde das Buch lesen.
(I will read the book.)
- ✅ Ich werde das Buch gelesen haben.
(I will have read the book.)
2. Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb at the End
- ❌ Ich werde das Buch gelesen.
- ✅ Ich werde das Buch gelesen haben.
3. Using the Wrong Auxiliary Verb in the Past Participle
- ❌ Ich werde gegangen haben.
- ✅ Ich werde gegangen sein.
(with verbs of movement or change of state, use sein as the auxiliary)
4. Placing the Past Participle and Auxiliary in the Wrong Order
- ❌ Ich werde haben das Buch gelesen.
- ✅ Ich werde das Buch gelesen haben.
Tips for Mastery
- Remember the auxiliary: The infinitive of haben or sein always comes at the end.
- Use time expressions: Words like bis (by), in (in), and spätestens (at the latest) help set the timeframe.
- Practice with movement verbs: Verbs that indicate movement or change of state take sein (e.g., gegangen sein, aufgestanden sein).
- Don’t overuse: In everyday conversation, simple future or present perfect often suffices. Use Futur II for clarity or formality.
Conclusion
The Futur II tense is a valuable tool for expressing completed actions with a future deadline, making assumptions about the past from a future perspective, and emphasizing the completion of processes. Mastering its structure and usage opens the door to more precise and nuanced German expression.
Last updated: Sat May 31, 2025
