Present Tenses

Present Continuous
Present Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect

Past Tenses

Past Continuous
Past Simple
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous

Future Tenses

Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous

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English Grammar:

Reported Speech
May and Might
Adverbs of Frequency Position
Auxiliary verb
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If + were or if + was
Going to

Future Continuous

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

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
In positive sentences:

Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/you/we etc. will be sleeping/taking

She will 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 will be throwing a party. (Use 1)

I will be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)

They will be getting home just about now. (Use 2)

 

 

Remember

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

 

 

 
Tomorrow at this time, I will be getting bored at school! (Use 1)
In questions:
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
will I/you/we etc. be dancing/taking

Will she 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)

In 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 won't 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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