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ESL Tense Warm-Ups

Grammar-Focused Conversation Starters

Present Simple

Tense

Present Simple

Use for habits and routines, facts, permanent situations, and states (like, know, want, need).  I work from home on Fridays.  She doesn't eat meat.  Do you live near here?
Watch out: he / she / it needs -s — She works (not She work). Questions and negatives use do / does + the base verb — Does she work? (not Does she works? or Is she work?).

Topic 01

Daily Routines

  1. What time do you usually get up on weekdays? And on weekends?
  2. What do you usually have for breakfast — or do you skip it?
  3. How do you get to work or school, and how long does it take?
  4. What do you usually do in the evening after dinner?
  5. Does anyone you live with have a very different routine? What does he or she do differently?
Notes

Topic 02

Food & Drinks

  1. What kind of food do you like most, and how often do you eat it?
  2. Do you prefer tea or coffee? How many cups do you drink a day?
  3. How often do you eat out? Where do you usually go?
  4. Is there any food you really don't like? Why not?
  5. Who does most of the cooking in your home? What does he or she usually make?
Notes

Topic 03

Hobbies & Free Time

  1. What do you usually do in your free time?
  2. How often do you exercise? What do you do?
  3. Do you play any sports or musical instruments? How often do you practice?
  4. What kind of shows or videos do you usually watch?
  5. Does your best friend like the same things as you? What does he or she do for fun?
Notes

Topic 04

Family

  1. How many people are there in your family? Where do they live?
  2. Do you live with family, with roommates, or alone?
  3. How often do you see your parents or siblings?
  4. What does your family usually do on holidays or birthdays?
  5. Who in your family do you talk to the most? What do you usually talk about?
Notes

Topic 05

Work & Study

  1. What do you do? (This question means "What's your job?") Where do you work or study?
  2. What time does your workday or first class usually start?
  3. What do you like most about your job or studies? What don't you like?
  4. How many hours a week do you usually work or study?
  5. What does a typical day at work or school look like for you?
Notes

Tense

Present Continuous

Use for actions in progress now, temporary situations, changing trends, and future arrangements you've already made.  I'm cooking dinner right now.  She's staying with her sister this month.  Prices are going up.  We're meeting at 7 tomorrow.
Compare: I live in Chicago (permanent) vs. I'm living with friends until I find an apartment (temporary).
Watch out: don't drop be — I'm working (not I working). State verbs (know, like, want, need, believe, own) usually stay simple — I know him (not I'm knowing him).

Topic 01

Right Now

  1. Look around you. What is happening around you right now?
  2. What are you wearing today?
  3. What is everyone else in your home doing right now, while you're in class?
  4. What book, show, or podcast are you reading, watching, or listening to these days?
  5. Besides English, are you learning anything new at the moment?
Notes

Topic 02

Current Changes

  1. Are you changing anything about your daily routine these days?
  2. How is your neighborhood or city changing? Are they building or fixing anything?
  3. What is the weather doing where you are these days — is it getting warmer or colder?
  4. Are you spending more or less time on your phone these days?
  5. Is English getting easier for you? What is improving most?
Notes

Topic 03

Temporary Situations

  1. Are you living somewhere temporarily, or is your current home long-term?
  2. Are you working or studying more than usual this month? Why?
  3. Are you using any new apps or gadgets at the moment? What for?
  4. Are you helping anyone with something these days — a friend, a relative, a neighbor?
  5. Tell me one thing you usually do and one thing you're doing differently this month.
Notes

Topic 04

Plans & Arrangements

  1. What are you doing this weekend? Is anything already arranged?
  2. Are you meeting any friends or family soon? When and where?
  3. What are you having for dinner tonight?
  4. Are you traveling anywhere in the next few months? When are you leaving?
  5. Do you have any appointments coming up — the doctor, the dentist, a haircut? When are you going?
Notes

Topic 05

People Around You

  1. What is someone in your family doing these days — studying, working, traveling?
  2. What are your close friends up to these days?
  3. What are people in your city or online talking about this week?
  4. Is anyone you know doing something exciting or difficult right now?
  5. Are your coworkers or classmates working on anything interesting at the moment?
Notes

Tense

Past Simple

Use for finished actions and states at a finished time in the past — often with yesterday, last week, in 2019, ago, or when I was a kid.  I visited Chicago last year.  She didn't come to the party.  Did you see the game?
Watch out: after did / didn't, use the base verb — Did you go? (not Did you went?) · I didn't see it (not I didn't saw it). Once you say when, use the past simple, not the present perfect — I saw him yesterday (not I have seen him yesterday).

Topic 01

Yesterday

  1. What did you do yesterday morning, step by step?
  2. What did you have for lunch yesterday? Where did you eat?
  3. Who did you talk to yesterday, and what did you talk about?
  4. What did you watch, read, or listen to last night?
  5. What time did you go to bed, and how well did you sleep?
Notes

Topic 02

Last Weekend

  1. What did you do last weekend?
  2. Did you go anywhere? Where did you go, and how did you get there?
  3. Who did you spend time with?
  4. What was the best part of your weekend? Why?
  5. Did anything go wrong? What happened?
Notes

Topic 03

Childhood

  1. Where did you grow up? What was it like?
  2. What did you like to do after school when you were a kid?
  3. What was your favorite subject in school? Why did you like it?
  4. Did you have a pet when you were young? What was its name?
  5. Tell me about a favorite childhood memory. What happened?
Notes

Topic 04

A Trip You Took

  1. Where did you go on your last trip?
  2. How did you get there, and how long did it take?
  3. Who did you go with, and where did you stay?
  4. What did you see, eat, or do there?
  5. Did anything go wrong or surprise you on the trip?
Notes

Topic 05

A Special Day

  1. What was one of the best days of your life? When was it?
  2. Where were you, and who were you with?
  3. What happened that made it special?
  4. How did you feel at the end of the day?
  5. Did you tell anyone about it afterward? What did they say?
Notes

Tense

Past Continuous

Use for an action in progress at a moment in the past, and to set the scene in a story. The shorter event that interrupts it is in the past simple.  I was cooking when the power went out.  At 7 p.m. we were having dinner.  While I was walking home, it started to rain.
Watch out: the interrupting event is past simple — I was sleeping when you called (not …when you were calling). State verbs usually stay simple — I knew the answer (not I was knowing the answer).

Topic 01

What Were You Doing?

  1. What were you doing at 8 o'clock this morning?
  2. What were you doing at this time yesterday?
  3. What were you doing just before this lesson started?
  4. What were you doing when you heard some big news recently?
  5. This time last year, where were you living, and what were you doing?
Notes

Topic 02

Interrupted Actions

  1. Think of a time your phone rang at a bad moment. What were you doing when it rang?
  2. Tell me about a time someone surprised you at home. What were you doing when they arrived?
  3. Tell me about a small kitchen disaster. What were you making when it happened?
  4. What were you doing the last time the power went out or your internet stopped working?
  5. Finish this sentence three different ways: "I was ___ when ___."
Notes

Topic 03

Background Stories

  1. Think of a memorable evening from your childhood. What was everyone in your family doing?
  2. Describe a party or celebration you remember. What were people doing when you arrived?
  3. Picture your first day at a new job or school. What were people doing when you walked in?
  4. Think of a time you arrived late somewhere. What was happening when you got there?
  5. Start a story like this: "It was a cold night, and the wind was blowing…" What were you doing, and what happened next?
Notes

Topic 04

A Busy Day

  1. Think of a really busy day recently. What were you doing at 9 a.m., at noon, and at 6 p.m.?
  2. Think of a time you tried to do two things at once. What were you doing, and did it work?
  3. Yesterday, while you were working or studying, what was happening around you?
  4. Last night, while you were having dinner, what were the other people in your home doing?
  5. Were you still working or studying late last night? What were you doing at 10 p.m.?
Notes

Topic 05

Surprising Moments

  1. What were you doing when something unexpected happened recently?
  2. Were you walking, driving, or traveling when something surprised you? What did you see?
  3. Where were you, and what were you doing, when you got some good news recently?
  4. Were you expecting it, or were you thinking about something else?
  5. Tell me about a time something funny happened while you were trying to be serious.
Notes

Tense

Present Perfect

Use to connect the past to now: life experiences (no time given), recent news with just / already / yet, unfinished time periods (today, this week, so far), and situations that started in the past and continue now (with for and since).  I've been to Japan twice.  She hasn't eaten yet.  We've lived here since 2020.
Watch out: once you say when, switch to the past simple — I've been to Rome. I went there in 2019 (not I've been there in 2019). For situations that are still true, don't use the present — I've known her for ten years (not I know her for ten years). For + a length of time (for three years); since + a starting point (since 2022).
American usage: in conversation, Americans often use the past simple with just / already / yet — Did you eat yet? I just finished. Both forms are correct in American English.

Topic 01

Life Experiences

  1. How many countries have you been to? Which one was your favorite?
  2. Have you ever tried a food you really didn't like? When did you try it?
  3. Have you ever met anyone famous? Where did you meet them?
  4. What is something you've never done but would like to try?
  5. What is the most interesting thing you have ever done?
Notes

Topic 02

Recent Activities

  1. What have you done so far today?
  2. Have you done anything fun this week?
  3. Have you seen any good movies or shows lately? Which one would you recommend?
  4. Have you spoken English outside of class this week? When?
  5. Is there anything you haven't done yet today that you still need to do?
Notes

Topic 03

Changes

  1. How have you changed in the last five years?
  2. Has your neighborhood changed since you moved there? How?
  3. Have your tastes in food, music, or clothes changed since you were a teenager?
  4. What new habits have you started this year?
  5. How has your English improved since you started studying it?
Notes

Topic 04

Achievements

  1. What have you achieved in the last few years that you're proud of?
  2. Have you ever finished something really difficult — a course, a race, a big project?
  3. What skills have you taught yourself?
  4. What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
  5. How many books have you read this year?
Notes

Topic 05

Places You've Been

  1. What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?
  2. Have you ever been to a big concert, festival, or sports event? Which one?
  3. How long have you lived in your current home? Where did you live before?
  4. What is the best restaurant or café you have ever been to?
  5. Have you been anywhere new this year? Where?
Notes

Tense

Past Perfect

Use for the "earlier past": something that happened before another point in the past. It matters most when the order isn't obvious.  When I got to the station, the train had left. (It was already gone.)  When I got to the station, the train left. (I saw it leave.)
Watch out: don't use it just because something happened long ago — I lived in Boston in 2015 (not I had lived in Boston in 2015). With before and after, the order is already clear, so the past simple is fine too — I ate before I left.

Topic 01

Before Events

  1. By the time this lesson started, what had you already done today?
  2. By the time you got to work or school this morning, had you eaten breakfast?
  3. Have you ever arrived somewhere and realized you had forgotten something important? What had you forgotten?
  4. When you woke up this morning, how many hours had you slept?
  5. By the time you were 18, what had you already decided about your future?
Notes

Topic 02

Firsts & Discoveries

  1. The first time you traveled abroad, had you ever been on a plane before?
  2. When you met your best friend, had you heard anything about them before? How did you meet?
  3. When you started your current job or school, had you met any of the people there before?
  4. Think of a movie or book that surprised you. What had you expected before you watched or read it?
  5. Have you ever discovered that something you had believed for years wasn't true? What was it?
Notes

Topic 03

Regrets

  1. Think of a time you were late for something important. What had gone wrong?
  2. Think of a test or exam that went badly. Why? What hadn't you done to prepare?
  3. Tell me about a time you missed something good because nobody had told you about it.
  4. Think of a day you came home angry or upset. What had happened?
  5. Is there something you wish you had learned or done earlier in life? (Wish + past perfect = a regret about the past.)
Notes

Topic 04

Looking Back

  1. Think about the last time you moved. How long had you lived in your old home?
  2. Before you started your current job or course, had you done anything similar?
  3. When you started learning English, had you already studied any other languages?
  4. By the time you finished high school, had you decided what you wanted to do next?
  5. Before you made your last big decision, who had you talked to about it?
Notes

Topic 05

Telling Stories

  1. Think of a movie you like. What had happened to the main character before the movie started?
  2. Tell me about a time you came home and realized something was wrong. What had happened?
  3. Have you ever met someone and realized you had met them before? Where had you met?
  4. Tell me about a time you got somewhere and everyone had already left. What had happened?
  5. Finish the story: "When I opened the door, I couldn't believe it. Someone had…"
Notes

Tense

Future — will

Use will for decisions made at the moment of speaking, offers, promises, and predictions based on opinion (often with I think, probably, I'm sure).  I think it'll rain tomorrow.  I'll get the door!  I promise I won't be late.
Watch out: for plans you made before now, use going to or the present continuous — I'm visiting my parents this weekend (not I will visit… if it's already arranged). After when, if, and as soon as, use the present — I'll call you when I get home (not when I will get home). No to after will — I'll go (not I'll to go). For offers, Americans usually say Should I…? or Do you want me to…? rather than Shall I…?

Topic 01

Predictions

  1. What do you think the weather will be like this weekend?
  2. Do you think you'll travel abroad next year? Where will you probably go?
  3. Who do you think will win the next big game or match you care about?
  4. Do you think prices will go up or down next year? What will get more expensive?
  5. Do you think you'll live in the same place in five years? Why or why not?
Notes

Topic 02

Offers & Promises

  1. Your friend says, "I'm so thirsty." What do you offer? (Start with I'll…)
  2. Your neighbor is carrying heavy bags up the stairs. What do you say?
  3. A friend lends you their car for the weekend. What do you promise them?
  4. Someone says, "I can't figure out this app." What do you offer to do?
  5. Make one promise to yourself about your English, starting with I'll… or I won't…
Notes

Topic 03

Hopes for the Future

  1. What do you think your life will look like in ten years?
  2. Where do you think you'll live when you're older — in a city, in the suburbs, or in the countryside?
  3. Do you think you'll have more or less free time in five years? Why?
  4. What do you think will make you happiest later in life?
  5. Do you think you'll ever learn another language? Which one?
Notes

Topic 04

Quick Decisions

  1. You're at a café and the server asks, "What can I get you?" What do you say? (Start with I'll have…)
  2. It's starting to rain and you don't have an umbrella. What do you decide to do?
  3. Your phone is at 2% and you're about to leave the house. What do you decide to do?
  4. A friend texts: "My car broke down and I'm stuck!" What do you text back?
  5. Your boss asks you to stay late on a Friday. What do you say?
Notes

Topic 05

The Future of Society

  1. Will people still read paper books in 30 years? Why or why not?
  2. Will AI do most people's jobs one day? Which jobs do you think it won't replace?
  3. Will cities get bigger or smaller in the future?
  4. Do you think people will travel more or less in the future? Why?
  5. What changes to the climate do you think we'll see in your lifetime?
Notes

Tense

Future — going to

Use going to for plans and intentions decided before now, and for predictions based on what you can see now.  I'm going to paint the kitchen this weekend.  Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.
Compare: I'm going to see a dentist soon (my plan) · I'm seeing the dentist at 3 tomorrow (a fixed appointment) · Ow, my tooth! I'll call the dentist (decided right now).
Watch out: keep be — I'm going to (not I going to). In fast American speech you'll hear gonna, but write going to.

Topic 01

Weekend Plans

  1. What are you going to do this weekend?
  2. Are you going to cook at home or eat out? What are you going to make or order?
  3. Are you going to see any friends or family? What are you going to do together?
  4. Are you going to relax or do something active?
  5. Is there anything you're going to watch, read, or listen to?
Notes

Topic 02

Tonight

  1. What are you going to do after this lesson?
  2. Are you going to work or study tonight?
  3. What are you going to have for dinner?
  4. Are you going to go to bed early or stay up late? Why?
  5. Is there a chore you keep putting off? When are you going to do it?
Notes

Topic 03

Goals & Habits

  1. What are you going to do to improve your English outside of class this month?
  2. Are you going to eat healthier or exercise more? What exactly are you going to do?
  3. Are you going to cut down on screen time or social media? How?
  4. What bad habit are you going to try to break?
  5. What is something you're going to try for the first time this year?
Notes

Topic 04

Long-Term Plans

  1. Are you going to stay in your city, or are you going to move one day? Where to?
  2. Are you going to take any classes or learn any new skills next year?
  3. Are you going to buy anything big in the next few years — a car, an apartment, a house?
  4. Are you going to change jobs or careers at some point? Why?
  5. How are you going to celebrate your next birthday?
Notes

Topic 05

What's Going to Happen?

  1. Look out the window. What's the weather going to be like this afternoon? What makes you think so?
  2. Your friend just ordered a huge pizza and two desserts for himself. What's going to happen?
  3. A little kid is running fast with a full ice cream cone. What's going to happen?
  4. Look at your schedule for next week. Which day is going to be the hardest? Why?
  5. Your favorite team is losing 3–0 at halftime. Are they going to win? Why or why not?
Notes

Tense

Present Perfect Continuous

Use for an activity that started in the past and is still going on (often with for, since, and how long), or one that just stopped and left a visible result.  I've been learning English for three years.  It's been raining all day.  You look tired — have you been running?
Compare: I've been reading this book (the activity, not finished) vs. I've read three chapters (the result — how many).
Watch out: with for and since, don't use the present — I've been waiting for an hour (not I'm waiting for an hour). State verbs take the present perfect simple — I've known her for years (not I've been knowing her).

Topic 01

Hobbies & Free Time

  1. How long have you been learning English? What have you been doing to practice outside class?
  2. What have you been doing to stay active lately? How long have you been doing it?
  3. What hobby have you been spending the most time on lately?
  4. What show or series have you been watching lately? How many episodes have you watched so far?
  5. What music or podcasts have you been listening to recently?
Notes

Topic 02

Health & Lifestyle

  1. How long have you been living in your current home?
  2. Have you been sleeping well lately? If not, what has been keeping you up?
  3. Have you been eating better or worse than usual recently? Why?
  4. Have you been feeling more relaxed or more stressed lately? What's been going on?
  5. Have you been spending more or less time outdoors lately?
Notes

Topic 03

Clues & Results

  1. Your friend's eyes are red and puffy. What do you think she's been doing?
  2. You come home and the kitchen smells amazing. What do you ask the person who lives with you?
  3. Your neighbor is covered in paint. What has he been doing?
  4. You're out of breath and your face is red. What have you been doing?
  5. The streets are wet, but it isn't raining now. What's been happening?
Notes

Topic 04

Work & Study

  1. How long have you been working at your current job or studying in your program?
  2. What have you been working on this week?
  3. Has anything been giving you trouble at work or school lately?
  4. Have you been preparing for an exam, interview, or presentation? How has it been going?
  5. Who have you been working with most closely lately?
Notes

Topic 05

Relationships & Social Life

  1. How long have you known your closest friend? (Careful: know is a state verb — have known, not have been knowing.)
  2. Have you been spending more or less time with family recently? Why?
  3. Have you been meeting new people lately — at work, online, or in your neighborhood?
  4. Who have you been texting or calling the most this week?
  5. Have you been going out more or less than usual? Why?
Notes

Tense

Past Perfect Continuous

Use for an activity that continued up to a point in the past (how long?), or to explain a past situation.  I had been waiting for an hour when he finally called.  Her eyes were red because she'd been crying.
Compare: I've been working here for five years (still here — reference point is now) vs. I'd been working there for five years when I quit (reference point in the past).
Watch out: state verbs take the past perfect simple — I'd known him for years (not I'd been knowing him).

Topic 01

Before a Big Change

  1. How long had you been living in your previous home before you moved to your current one?
  2. What had you been doing before you started your current job or course?
  3. How long had you been doing your previous job or studies before you made a change?
  4. Had you been thinking about a big decision for a long time before you finally made it?
  5. How long had you been looking for something — a job, a home, an answer — before you found it?
Notes

Topic 02

Preparation & Practice

  1. How long had you been preparing before an important exam, interview, or event?
  2. Had you been practicing a skill for a long time before you felt truly confident in it?
  3. How long had you been studying a language before you had your first real conversation in it?
  4. Had you been training for anything before an injury or a setback stopped you?
  5. How long had you been working on a project before you realized you needed to start over?
Notes

Topic 03

Waiting & Anticipation

  1. How long had you been waiting for something exciting before it finally happened?
  2. Had you been expecting some news for a while before you actually got it?
  3. How long had you been hoping for a particular opportunity before it came along?
  4. Had you been trying to fix a problem for a long time before you found the solution?
  5. How long had you been saving money for something before you finally bought it?
Notes

Topic 04

Explaining the Past

  1. Think of a day you came home completely exhausted. What had you been doing all day?
  2. Tell me about a time you arrived somewhere wet, dirty, or out of breath. What had you been doing?
  3. Think of a time you lost your voice or had sore muscles. What had you been doing?
  4. Had you been working too hard before you finally took a break or a vacation?
  5. How long had something been bothering you before you finally talked about it?
Notes

Topic 05

Before Meeting Someone

  1. How long had you been living in a place before you made a good friend there?
  2. Had you been looking for a good teacher or coach for a while before you found one who really helped you?
  3. How long had you been going to the same place — a gym, a café, or a class — before you got to know someone there?
  4. Had you been going through a difficult period before you met someone who changed your outlook?
  5. How long had you been part of a group or community before you felt you truly belonged?
Notes

Tense

Future Continuous

Use for an action that will be in progress at a certain time in the future, and to ask politely about someone's plans.  This time tomorrow, I'll be flying to Madrid.  At 8 tonight, she'll be having dinner with friends.  Will you be using the car tonight? (softer than Will you use…?)
Watch out: you need be + -ing — I'll be working (not I'll be work or I'll working). State verbs stay simple — I'll know the results tomorrow (not I'll be knowing).

Topic 01

This Time Tomorrow

  1. What will you be doing at this exact time tomorrow?
  2. This time next week, what will you be doing?
  3. This time next year, where will you be living, and what will you be doing?
  4. At 10 p.m. tonight, what will most people in your city be doing?
  5. On Saturday at noon, what do you think you'll be doing?
Notes

Topic 02

Travel & Trips

  1. Where will you be traveling next, and what will you be doing there?
  2. On your next vacation, will you be relaxing on a beach or exploring a city?
  3. Picture the first evening of your next trip. What will you be doing at 8 p.m.?
  4. What will you be eating and drinking on your next trip?
  5. Will you be visiting any family or friends in the next few months?
Notes

Topic 03

Plans & Polite Questions

  1. What will you be doing this coming weekend?
  2. Will you be seeing any friends or family over the next few days?
  3. Will you be working or studying late any evening this week?
  4. You want to borrow a friend's bike on Saturday. Ask about their plans first, politely. (Will you be…?)
  5. You want to drop something off at a neighbor's place tomorrow evening. Ask if they'll be home. (Will you be…?)
Notes

Topic 04

Long-Term Life Predictions

  1. In twenty years, what do you think you'll be doing for work?
  2. Will people still be using the same social media apps in ten years?
  3. In thirty years, will people still be driving their own cars?
  4. What languages do you think you'll be speaking in ten years?
  5. Will humans be living on other planets in your lifetime? What do you think?
Notes

Topic 05

Seasons & Holidays

  1. What will you be doing during the next big holiday?
  2. On New Year's Eve at midnight, what will you be doing, and who will you be with?
  3. This winter, will you be traveling or staying close to home?
  4. Next summer, will you be spending more time outside? What will you be doing?
  5. On your next birthday, what do you think you'll be doing?
Notes

Tense

Future Perfect

Use for something that will be finished before a certain point in the future — usually with by (by Friday, by 2030, by the time…).  By the time you get home, I'll have left.  She'll have graduated by next June.
Watch out: after by the time, use the present simple — by the time you arrive (not by the time you will arrive). Use by, not until — I'll have finished by Friday (not until Friday). In everyday speech, people often use plain will when the order is clear — I'll finish it by Friday.

Topic 01

Personal Goals

  1. By the end of this year, what will you have finished or achieved?
  2. By this time next year, what will you have changed in your life?
  3. By your next birthday, what will you have done that you haven't done yet?
  4. By the end of this month, how many English lessons will you have had?
  5. By the time you retire, what do you hope you'll have done?
Notes

Topic 02

Technology & Society

  1. By 2050, what will scientists have invented that doesn't exist today?
  2. By the time today's kids are adults, how will daily life have changed?
  3. By 2035, will most drivers in your country have switched to electric cars?
  4. By the end of this decade, will AI have changed your job or daily life? How?
  5. By 2050, what problems will the world have solved — and what will it have made worse?
Notes

Topic 03

Travel & Experience

  1. By the end of this year, how many trips will you have taken?
  2. By your next birthday, will you have been somewhere new? Where?
  3. By the end of your life, how many countries do you think you'll have visited?
  4. By the end of next year, what new foods or experiences do you hope you'll have tried?
  5. By the time you leave on your next trip, what will you have done to prepare?
Notes

Topic 04

Education & Learning

  1. By the end of this week, how many hours of English will you have practiced?
  2. By the end of this year, how many books will you have read?
  3. By next summer, what new skill will you have learned?
  4. By the time you finish your current course or program, what will you have learned?
  5. By the time we have our next lesson, what will you have done?
Notes

Topic 05

Relationships & Milestones

  1. By your next birthday, how long will you have known your best friend?
  2. By the end of this year, will you have made any new friends?
  3. By the day of your next family celebration, what will you have bought or prepared?
  4. By the time you're old, what lessons will you have learned to pass on?
  5. By the end of today, how many people will you have talked to?
Notes

Tense

Future Perfect Continuous

Use to say how long an activity will have continued by a certain point in the future. It's rare in everyday speech, so practice it with How long … by …?  By next June, I'll have been living here for five years.  When he finally gets here, we'll have been waiting for two hours.
Compare: By Friday, I'll have read 200 pages (how much — future perfect) vs. By Friday, I'll have been reading this book for a month (how long — future perfect continuous).
Watch out: state verbs take the future perfect simple — I'll have known her for 20 years (not I'll have been knowing her).

Topic 01

Language Learning Journey

  1. By the end of this year, how long will you have been studying English?
  2. By the end of this lesson, how long will we have been talking?
  3. By your next birthday, how long will you have been taking these lessons?
  4. By the time you take your next English exam or test, how long will you have been preparing?
  5. By the time you feel truly fluent, how long do you think you'll have been learning?
Notes

Topic 02

Work & Career

  1. By the end of this year, how long will you have been working at your current job or studying in your program?
  2. By the time you finish your current project, how long will you have been working on it?
  3. By the time you retire, how many years will you have been working?
  4. By Friday, how many hours will you have been sitting at a desk this week?
  5. By the time your next vacation starts, how long will you have been working without a real break?
Notes

Topic 03

Habits & Routines

  1. By next year, how long will you have been living in your current home?
  2. By the end of this year, how long will you have been using your current phone?
  3. By the time you go to bed tonight, how long will you have been awake?
  4. By next summer, how long will you have been doing your current sport or exercise routine?
  5. By your next birthday, how long will you have been driving (or cooking for yourself)?
Notes

Topic 04

Social Life & Interests

  1. By your next birthday, how long will you have been living with the people you live with now (or living alone)?
  2. By the end of this year, how long will you have been going to the same gym, club, or class?
  3. By next year, how long will you have been following your favorite team, band, or creator?
  4. By the end of this year, how long will you have been chatting in your main family or friends group chat?
  5. By your next birthday, how long will you have been doing your favorite hobby?
Notes

Topic 05

Society & Change

  1. Smartphones became popular around 2007. By 2035, how long will people have been carrying them?
  2. By 2050, how long will people have been trying to deal with climate change?
  3. By the time you're old, how long will you have been using the internet?
  4. AI chatbots became popular around 2022. By 2030, how long will people have been using them?
  5. Think of a big construction project in your city. By the time it's finished, how long will workers have been building it?
Notes