German Grammar: Mastering the Future Perfect Tense in German:  (German Future 2)

Are you eager to expand your German grammar skills and fully grasp the future perfect tense? This detailed guide delves into the intricacies of the Futur II in German, offering invaluable insights for learners at all levels. Discover how to correctly form and use this tense, and understand its role in expressing completed actions in the future. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will help you master this essential aspect of German grammar.

German grammar: Learn German Futur ii Usage

You use the German Future Perfect to describe an action or event that will have happened in the future. German speakers use this tense very rarely i.e the time of speaking it in daily life goes almost to zero, but in written language you could see it.

Differences to other German tenses: 

People use the past tenses Present perfect, simple past and past perfect to describe something that is in the past. 

The Futur 1 points out an event or action in the future. You can read more about them: here

Formation of the Future Perfect Tense in German

To form the Futur Perfekt in German, you need to conjugate werden +  past participle at the 2nd last position and at the end of the sentence stands the infinitive of "haben" or “sein" depending on the main verb. 

Examples: 

• Der Junge wird die Aufgabe gemacht haben. The boy will have done the task.
• Die Studenten werden die Prüfung absolviert haben. The students will have passed the exam.

How to conjugate werden in German language

The helping verb werden is needed in the present tense to form the Futur 2. 

• ich werde = I will 
• du wirst = 
• er, sie, es wird 
• wir werden
• ihr werdet 
• sie, Sie werden

When to use the auxiliary verb Haben and Sein

"Haben" and "sein" are  crucial in forming this tense. The form of the auxiliary verb is in an infinitive. The choice between these verbs depends on the main verb's nature. Generally, "haben" is used with transitive and reflexive verbs, while "sein" is used with verbs that imply locomotion or change. In a main sentence they are placed at the end of the clause

Examples: 

• Am Dienstag wird Tony umgezogen sein. Tony will have moved on Tuesday.
• Die Freunde werden bis 20 Uhr bei REWE eingekauft haben. Die Freunde werden bis 20 Uhr bei REWE eingekauft haben. 

The Role of Past Participles

Past participles are integral in forming the future perfect tense.  They are derived from the main verb and usually end with -t or -et and add a "ge" to the word stem. 

Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs refer to the same rules as for the German perfect participle. The rules of weak, strong and mixed verbs also apply here. You can read more about the Perfekt in detail: here.

Example:

• Der Umzug in ein neues Haus wird in der Zukunft stattgefunden haben. The move to a new house will have taken place in the future

Word Order in Future Perfect Sentences

The Word order follows a specific pattern:

1. The conjugated form of werden is placed at the second position.
2. The participle is at the 2nd last position.
3. At the end of the sentence stands the infinitive of sein or haben.

Example: 

• Der Lehrer wird (2nd position) die Frage beantwortet (2nd last position) haben (last position). 

If you like to get more information about this topic in general, you can check out this article: here. 

Subordinate clause

You use the following sentence structure: 

1. Partizip 2 at the 3rd last place
2. Sein or haben at the 2nd last position 
3. Form of werden at the end

Here you can see an example with a conditional clause:

• Wenn das Wetter nächste Woche in gut gewesen sein wird, werden wir viel  ins Schwimmbad gefahren sein. If the weather has been good next week, we will have gone to the swimming pool a lot.

Passive voice

It is possible to form a Passive, even tho it is not very common and very difficult.

• Der Kühlschrank wird von dem Mann gereinigt worden sein. The fridge will have been cleaned by the man.

Using the Future Perfect Tense with Examples

Practical examples are key to understanding the use e.g  "Er wird das Auto repariert haben"  translates to “He will have finished the exam”. You can see some examples to understand this topic better. 

Explanation of the Future Perfect Tense in German (Future 2)

The  Future Tense 2 in German refers to the the past future (vollendete Zukunft).

In German, it is a fascinating aspect of German grammar. It's used to express the assumption that an action will have been completed at some time in the future. This tense is not only essential for fluency but also enriches your understanding of time and action in the German language.

It is a combination of the Futur 1 and the present perfect. It may seem not so straightforward as other tenses. 

Key Points to Remember

• The future perfect tense (Futur II) is used for actions assumed to be completed in the future.
• It requires the correct use of "haben" or "sein" and a past participle.
• Word order is crucial
• Practice and comparison with English can aid in mastering this tense.
• Regular practice with exercises will enhance your proficiency and confidence in using the future perfect tense in German.

FAQ:

What is the Past Future tense (vollendete Zukunft) in German?

• The Futur 2 is a grammatical term used to describe a future occurrence that will have been completed at some point in time. It indicates actions or events that are expected or planned to be finished before a specific time in the future. The construction of it involves the usage of "will have" followed by the participle 2 of the verb.

How to form the Future Perfect?

• You conjugate werden and you add the Partizip 2 at the 2nd last position and the infinitive of haben or sein at the end. 

How important is the Futur 2 compared to other German Tenses?

• It is the least important one, and mostly used in written language.