English tenses: Future Continuous
The Future Continuous is a progressive tense that we use to talk about activities that will be in progress in the future. This tense uses the verbs in the present participle (verb-ing).
Affirmative sentences in Future Continuous
We use will, the verb to be, and the main verb in the present participle to form sentences. The verb to be is in the bare infinitive form (which means it’s not preceded by to).
Subject + will + be + verb-ing + the rest of the sentence
I will be making a cake tomorrow.
Negative sentences in Future Continuous
Negative sentences are formed by adding not between will and be.
Subject + will + not + be + verb-ing + the rest of the sentence
I will not be making a cake tomorrow.
Questions in Future Continuous
Questions in the Future Continuous are formed by the inversion of will.
Will + subject + be + verb-ing + the rest of the sentence
Will you be making a cake tomorrow?
The Usage of Future Continuous
We use Future Continuous to:
+ talk about an activity that will happen at a specified time in the future
I will be meeting him next week.
Next week I will be relaxing on the beach.
Next week I will be relaxing on the beach.
+ talk about longer activity that will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future
At 8 a.m. I’ll be driving to work.
I will be cooking when you come to visit.
I will be cooking when you come to visit.
+ predict the future
I expect we will be waiting for hours for him.
You will be feeling a little sick after taking this pill.
You will be feeling a little sick after taking this pill.
+ make guesses about actions happening now
Let’s watch some TV. They’ll be showing the winter parade now.
Adam? He’ll be sleeping now.
Adam? He’ll be sleeping now.
+ politely ask about future plans ((instead of future simple to show it’s not a request or offer)
Will you be bringing a plus one?
Will you be coming to her party?
Will you be coming to her party?
+ talk about events that are in progress now and are expected to continue for some time in the future
In an hour, I will still be trying to clean this mess.
Next week, he will still be working on this project.
Next week, he will still be working on this project.
+ talk about ongoing events in the future
This time next year, I will be relaxing on an exotic island.
We’re going to Boston tomorrow, but we won’t be staying with my parents.
We’re going to Boston tomorrow, but we won’t be staying with my parents.
+ talk about temporary events
Today, we’re drawing but tomorrow we’ll be singing.
I’ll be taking care of her for the next month.
I’ll be taking care of her for the next month.
