Future Continuous

First time here? You may want to see the list of basic facts about tenses.

We mainly use the Future Continuous (Future Progressive) to indicate that we will be in the middle of doing something in a specified time in the future.

A complete list of uses below:

Use
  1. Future actions in progress.
  2. Guesses about the present or the future.
  3. Polite questions about somebody's intentions*.

*Remember

If you want to learn about somebody's intentions, you should never use the Future Simple. Using the Future Simple implies that you want to influence somebody's decision. Questions become much more objective if formed in the Future Continuous.

  • Will you come home? (= I want you to come home)
  • Will you be coming home?
Form

Contracted forms (more)

WILL = 'LL

Example: She'll have been = she will have been

WILL + NOT = WON'T

Example: She won't have been = she will not have been

Important: The Future Continuous appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which can be used interchangably.
Example: "She will be dancing" means "she is going to be dancing"

Declarative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/you/we etc. will be sleeping/taking
  • She'll be having a bath when I'm back home. (Use 1)
  • Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car. (Use 1)
  • This time next week, I am going to be throwing a party. (Use 1)
  • I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)
  • They will be getting home just about now. (Use 2)

Remember

Like any of the Future Tenses, Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences beginning with: while, when, before, by the time, if, etc.

By the time, you will be finishing your paiting.

 

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Tomorrow at this time, I will be getting bored at school! (Use 1)
Questions:

Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing ?
will I/you/we etc. be dancing / taking
  • Is she going to be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1)
  • Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1)
  • Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I / you / we / etc. won't be trying/taking
  • We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1)
  • I am not going to be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1)
  • John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2)

Check your understanding!

  • Future Continuous Exercise 1

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    Comments

    Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 14:01.

    Thank you again. Straight to the point.
    Easy to understand and explain.
    Great work and please continue to produce more English grammar for both teachers and students.

    Submitted by wessam (not verified) on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 23:01.

    could you clarify use for this tense again ? if you please
    thank you

    Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 05:51.

    thats easy to learn future continous tense.

    Submitted by Oto2El (not verified) on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 14:49.

    Thaks for you opinion

    Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 07:49.

    hehe

    Submitted by ameera on Tue, 04/06/2010 - 09:43.

    i did not clearly understand it please make me understand