LoginFuture Continuous
This detailed lesson explores the Future Continuous Tense in English, featuring examples and a quiz to help test your knowledge.
What Is Future Continuous Tense?
The future continuous (also known as the future progressive) tense is often used in English as a way to talk about an ongoing action or event happening at a given point in the future. It indicates that something will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time.
Future Continuous: Structure
The future continuous tense is formed using the modal verb 'will,' the auxiliary verb 'be' in its base form, and the present participle of the main verb. The modal and auxiliary remain unchanged for all subjects in this tense.
In informal contexts, 'will' can be contracted.
I will be studying. → I'll be studying.
Future Continuous: Negation
To form negative sentences 'not' is used after the modal verb 'will' and before the auxiliary 'be':
She will be using the car. → She will not be using the car.
We will be having dinner. → We will not be having dinner.
In negative sentences, you can contract 'will not' as 'won't', for example:
I will not be sleeping. → I won't be sleeping.
Future Continuous: Questions
To form yes/no questions in the future continuous tense, simply invert the subject and 'will.' Here are some examples:
He will be playing football. → Will he be playing football?
To form a wh- question in the future continuous tense, follow the same procedure as for yes/no questions and place the appropriate wh- question word at the beginning of the sentence while omitting the part that constitutes the answer.
He will be cooking dinner this evening. → Who will be cooking dinner this evening?
Future Continuous: Uses
The future continuous tense is used to talk about:
Ongoing Actions at Some Point in the Future
Future Decisions or Plans
Future Predictions and Expectations
Scheduled Events in the Future
Temporary Future States
Ongoing Actions at Some Point in the Future
The 'future continuous tense' is used to talk about an unfinished action that will be in progress at a time later than now. When we talk about unfinished actions, it means they have started earlier and will continue until a particular point in the future. For example:
At 4 p.m. tomorrow, I will be working.
They won't be watching TV at 9 p.m. tonight.
The 'future continuous tense' is also used to talk about an action that will be in progress in the future and is interrupted by another action that does not continue for long. Check out the examples:
She will be talking on the stage when you enter.
I'll be waiting for you when you get back.
The 'future continuous tense' is sometimes used with 'still' to talk about events that are already happening now and are expected to continue until some time into the future. This shows that the event started in the past, is still ongoing, and will continue in the future as well. For example:
In one year he'll still be living in a dormitory.
Sadly, prices will still be rising in years to come.
Future Decisions or Plans
The 'future continuous tense' is used to talk about future plans and decisions. It indicates our intention or commitment to an ongoing action or event in the future. For example:
By Christmas Jane and I will be moving in our new home.
This time next month I will be living in Madrid.
Future Predictions and Expectations
We use the 'future continuous tense' to predict future events. It means we are not completely sure that something will happen, but we think it is likely. Check out the following examples:
I expect that she'll be visiting them in Peru.
You'll be feeling hungry after gardening all day.
The 'future continuous tense' can also refer to ongoing events that we expect to happen in the future. This means that we think something will happen but there might be changes. Look at the examples.
I'll be visiting Paul at the party next week.
When James is in Germany, he will be staying at a hotel.
Scheduled Events in the Future
We use the 'future continuous tense' to talk about planned or scheduled events in the future, often as a reminder, or warning. For example:
We'll be leaving at 12:00. Don't be late!
We will be studying on Sunday evening.
Temporary Future States
We do not normally use the continuous tense with stative verbs. However, a few stative verbs like 'love,' 'live,' 'feel,' 'expect,' and 'enjoy' can be used in the continuous form to talk about temporary states. Look at the examples:
You will be loving every moment of your vacation in Hawaii.
They will be expecting your call at 3 PM.
Review
Future continuous tense is used to talk about actions that are supposed to be in progress at a particular time in the future.
structure | Subject + will + be + main verb in -ing form |
|---|---|
affirmative | He will be playing tomorrow. |
contraction | He'll be playing tomorrow. |
negative | He will not be playing tomorrow. |
contraction | He won't be playing tomorrow. |
yes/ no question | Will he be playing tomorrow? |
-wh question | When will he be playing? |
The future continuous tense is used to talk about:
Ongoing actions in the future
Future decisions or plans
Future predictions and expectations
Scheduled events in the future
Temporary future states
Quiz:
Which sentence correctly uses the Future Continuous tense?
She will bake a cake tomorrow.
She will be baking a cake at 3 PM tomorrow.
She has baked a cake every Sunday.
She bakes cakes now.
Sort the words to form a correct sentence in the future continuous tense.
Fill in the blanks with verbs in Future Continuous tense.
This time next month, we
(travel) through Southeast Asia.
We
(not stay) at this hotel next time – we've found a better one.
When you come back, I
(wait) for you at the station.
(you/use) the conference room at 3 PM tomorrow?
Where
(they/wait) for us when we arrive?
Match each sentence to the correct description of its use.
Which sentence describes a temporary state in the future?
I'll be living with my parents while my house is renovated.
She'll be working this time tomorrow.
I will naturally feel nervous before the interview.
He will be tired after work.
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