The Future Continuous

Future Continuous Tense:

(or future progressive tense)

The future continuous tense isn't taught very much in English classes, but in fact, English speakers use it a lot. You will sound much more natural if you master this tense.

Here's how to make it:
The positive (will + be + verb-ing):
At 10 am tomorrow,

• I will be sleeping
• you will be working
• she will be studying
• it will be raining
• he will be cooking
• we will be eating breakfast
• they will be travelling

Like with the future simple, usually we use the short form ('ll be verb-ing) when we are speaking.
Sometimes students don't use the short form, because they are not sure how to pronounce it. Here are some examples to help.

• I'll be sleeping
  
• you'll be working
  
• she'll be studying
  
• it'll be raining
  
• he'll be cooking
  
• we'll be eating breakfast
  
• they'll be travelling
  

Here's the negative:
When John gets home,

• I will not be working (I won't be ..)
• you will not be reading (you won't be ..)
• he will not be cooking (he won't be ..)
• she will not be studying (she won't be ..)
• it will not be snowing (it won't be ..)
• we will not be watching TV (we won't be ..)
• they will not be sleeping (they won't be ..)

As with the positive, we usually use the short form (won't be verb-ing) when speaking.


Next, the question:
'yes / no' questions:
When arrives at the party,

• will I be cooking?
• will you be dancing?
• will she be singing?
• will he be eating?
• will we be drinking?
• will it be snowing?
• will they be talking?

'wh' questions:
Next weekend,

• what will I be doing?
• where will you be working?
• how will she be travelling?
• what will he be eating?
• why will we be studying?
• why will it be snowing?
• what will they be wearing?

  Future Continuous Use

  We use the future progressive tense for:

  1. A continuous action in the future which is interrupted by a time or by another action.
     I’ll be waiting when you arrive.
     At eight o’clock, I’ll be eating dinner.
     (see the past continuous which is used in a smiliar way)
  
  
  
  2. A complete action in the future that will happen in the normal course of events.
     The Government will be making a statement later.
     Because this talks about something that will happen if everything is as we planned, we often use this tense to ask politely about what someone is going to do.
     Will you be taking your car to the meeting? (=I'm asking very indirectly and politely - perhaps I want to get a lift)
  
  
  
  3. To make a guess about the present.
     My mother will be working now. (= I think she is working now, but I’m not completely certain)