The future continuous

Future Continuous

Introduction

The future continuous tense, sometimes also referred to as the future progressive tense, is a verb tense that indicates that something will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time.

Forming

The future continuous is made up of two elements: the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)

Subject simple future,  'to be' base+ing

You

will be

watching

Affirmative

S + will + be + V(ing)

  • I will be asking
  • She won't be leaving (noun + verb)
  • Will they be retiring? (noun + adverb)

Interrogative

Will + S + be + V(ing)?

  • Will they be retiring? (noun + adverb)
  • Will they be staying?

Affirmative

S + will + not + be + V(ing)

  • She won't be leaving. (noun + verb)
  • They will not be staying.

Interrogative negative

  • Won't we be staying?

Example: to stay, future continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I will be staying

I won't be staying

Will I be staying?

You will be staying

You won't be staying

Will you be staying?

He, she, it will be staying

He won't be staying

Will she be staying?

We will be staying

We won't be staying

Will we be staying?

You will be staying

You won't be staying

Will you be staying?

They will be staying

They won't be staying

Will they be staying?

Functions

The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. It is used:
1. To talk about an action in the future that overlaps another, shorter action or a time
The action in the future continuous usually starts before and might continue after the second action or time. The verb after 'when' is usually in the present simple.

  • I'll be waiting when you arrive.
  • At eight o'clock, I'll be eating dinner.

To project ourselves into the future and see something happening:

  • This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
Events in progress in the future:
  • When you are in Australia will you be staying with friends?
  • This time next week you will be working in your new job.
  • At four thirty on Tuesday afternoon I will be signing the contract.

2. To talk about something that will happen if everything happens as we expect.

This is sometimes called future as a matter of course. It's usually possible to choose the future simple as well, but we often choose the future continuous because then it's clear that we are not making a request or offer.

  • The Government will be making a statement later.
  • When will you be leaving? (This is more polite than 'when will you leave?' because it's definitely not a request for you to leave.)

Events/actions in normal course of events:

  • I'll be going into town this afternoon, is there anything you want from the shops?
  • Will you be using the car tomorrow? - No, you can take it.
  • I'll be seeing Jane this evening - I'll give her the message.
3. Asking for information:

In the interrogative form, especially with 'you', to distinguish between a simple request for information and an invitation:

  • Will you be coming to the party tonight? (= request for information)
  • Will you come to the party? (= invitation)
  • Will Jim be coming with us? (= request for information)

4. To predict or guess about someone's actions or feelings, now or in the future:

  • You'll be feeling tired after that long walk, I expect.
  • You'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
  • He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
  • You'll be missing the sunshine now you're back in England