Future Continuous vs. Future With Will

There are similarities and differences between future continuous and future with will, which might cause confusion.

What is Their Main Difference?

The main difference between the two is that 'future with will' talks about spontaneous decisions that are made at the moment while future continuous talks about future plans that are fixed.

Uses and Comparison

1. Prediction

We tend to use both future simple to talk about predictions and guesses about the future. The same case goes with future continuous tense. We tend to make guesses about situations that we are uncertain about.

It will be raining tomorrow.

Here, we are forecasting a future event.

It will rain tomorrow.

Here, we are guessing about a future events.

2. Spontaneous Decisions

We tend to use 'will' to talk about decisions for the future made on the spot and right now. Remember that decision is being made at the moment of speaking.

I will open the door.

Here, we are talking about a decision made on the spot to do something in the near future.

I ~~will~~ be ~~opening~~ the door.

Here, we are talking about a fixed event in the future.

3. Fixed Arrangements

When we want to talk about arrangements about the future, we use future continuous tense. In this case, we are trying to review or remind an event.

I will be joining the meeting at 10 o'clock.

Here, we are referring to a fixed event.

I ~~will~~ ~~join~~ the meeting at 10 o'clock.

Here, there is a uncertainty in the chance of occurrence.

4. Ongoing Actions

There are times when we want to talk about an unfinished action or event which will be continuing to some time in the future. In this case, we will be using the future continuous tense.

I will be working at 10:30 tomorrow.

Here, we are talking about an ongoing action in the future.

I ~~will~~ ~~work~~ at 10:30 tomorrow.

This example is not referring an ongoing action in the future. It is referring to a premade plan about the future.

6. Requests

We can also use the 'will' tense in interrogative form to request something or make an offer. We tend to use an interrogative mood to make the offer and request sound more polite.

Will you open the door please?

Here, we are politely requesting something.

Will you be opening the door please?

Here, we are not making an offer, we are making a suggestion.

Structure

Now that we have talked about the uses of tenses and compared them, we can talk about their structures individually.

1. Future with Will

In order to create future with will, 'will' is added to the subject of the sentence followed by the base form of the main verb.

I will talk to her as soon as possible.

They will cook for everyone.

2. Future Continuous Tense

In order to create future continuous, we add 'will' to the verb 'be' followed by the present participle of the main verb.

Subject	Will	be	-ing form
I	will	be	following
He	will	be	searching

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