Future Continuous Tense in English

The Future Continuous tense (also called Future Progressive) is an essential tense for expressing ongoing actions at specific times in the future. It allows us to paint a picture of what will be happening at a particular moment, describe planned activities, make polite inquiries about future plans, and express parallel future actions. Understanding the Future Continuous helps you communicate more naturally and precisely about future events.

Unlike the Simple Future which presents actions as complete units, the Future Continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature of future actions. It's particularly useful in professional and social contexts where you need to discuss schedules, plans, and activities that will be in progress. In this lesson, we'll focus on the affirmative forms of the Future Continuous tense.

1. Structure of Future Continuous (Affirmative Only)

The Future Continuous tense is formed using two auxiliary verbs followed by the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. There are two ways to form it:

Method 1: Will + Be + Verb-ing

Structure: Subject + will + be + verb-ing

  • I will be working at 9 PM tonight.
  • You will be studying when I arrive.
  • He will be sleeping at midnight.
  • She will be teaching a class at 3 PM.
  • It will be raining all day tomorrow.
  • We will be traveling through Europe next month.
  • They will be waiting for us at the airport.

Method 2: Going to + Be + Verb-ing

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + going to + be + verb-ing

  • I am going to be working late tonight.
  • You are going to be studying all weekend.
  • He is going to be driving for six hours.
  • She is going to be presenting her research.
  • It is going to be snowing when we arrive.
  • We are going to be celebrating our anniversary.
  • They are going to be moving to a new house.

2. Forming the Present Participle (-ing form)

To form the Future Continuous, you need to know how to create the present participle (verb + -ing). Here are the spelling rules:

General Rule: Add -ing

Most verbs simply add -ing to the base form:

  • work → working
  • study → studying
  • read → reading
  • talk → talking
  • play → playing

Special Spelling Rules:

Rule Base Form -ing Form Example in Future Continuous
Drop silent -e make, take, write making, taking, writing I will be making dinner.
Keep -ee, -oe, -ye see, agree, dye seeing, agreeing, dyeing We will be seeing them tomorrow.
-ie → y + ing lie, die, tie lying, dying, tying She will be lying on the beach.
Double final consonant* run, sit, swim running, sitting, swimming They will be running a marathon.
Keep -y study, play, try studying, playing, trying He will be studying all night.

*Double the final consonant when: the verb has one syllable, ends in one consonant, and has one vowel before it (CVC pattern). For two-syllable verbs, double if the stress is on the second syllable (beGIN → beginning, but VISit → visiting).

3. Verb Conjugation Tables

Here's how the Future Continuous is conjugated with different subjects:

With "Will"

Subject Will Be Verb-ing Example
I will be working I will be working from home tomorrow.
You will be working You will be working on the project.
He will be working He will be working late tonight.
She will be working She will be working in the lab.
It will be working It will be working automatically.
We will be working We will be working together.
They will be working They will be working on different tasks.

With "Going to"

Subject Be Going to Be Verb-ing Example
I am going to be studying I am going to be studying all evening.
You are going to be studying You are going to be studying for the exam.
He is going to be studying He is going to be studying medicine.
She is going to be studying She is going to be studying abroad.
It is going to be raining It is going to be raining all week.
We are going to be studying We are going to be studying together.
They are going to be studying They are going to be studying different subjects.

4. Main Uses of Future Continuous

The Future Continuous tense serves several important functions in English. Understanding these uses will help you choose the right tense for different situations:

1. Actions in Progress at a Specific Future Time

To describe what will be happening at a particular moment in the future:

  • At 10 PM tonight, I will be watching the football match.
  • This time tomorrow, we will be flying to Paris.
  • At 3 o'clock, she will be giving her presentation.
  • Next week at this time, they will be lying on the beach.
  • In an hour, he will be taking his driving test.
  • At midnight, the city will be celebrating the New Year.

Key Time Expressions:

  • At + specific time (at 5 PM, at noon, at midnight)
  • This time + tomorrow/next week/next year
  • In + time period (in an hour, in two days)
  • Between + time and time (between 2 and 4 PM)

2. Planned or Scheduled Future Activities

To talk about arrangements and plans, especially when emphasizing duration:

  • I will be working on this project all next week.
  • She will be attending a conference from Monday to Wednesday.
  • They will be renovating their house during the summer.
  • We will be staying at the Grand Hotel.
  • He will be teaching at the university next semester.
  • The company will be launching new products throughout the year.

3. Polite Inquiries About Plans

The Future Continuous sounds more polite and less direct than Simple Future for asking about plans:

  • Will you be coming to the party? (more polite than "Will you come?")
  • Will you be using the car tonight? (softer than "Will you use?")
  • Will she be joining us for dinner?
  • Will they be needing any help with the move?
  • Will you be staying long?

4. Parallel Actions in the Future

To describe two or more actions happening simultaneously in the future:

  • While you are sleeping, I will be working on the report.
  • She will be cooking dinner while he will be setting the table.
  • The children will be playing while we will be preparing for the party.
  • I will be studying while my roommate will be watching TV.

5. Actions That Will Happen as a Matter of Course

To express future events that will happen naturally or as part of a routine:

  • The sun will be shining tomorrow. (weather forecast)
  • I will be seeing John at the regular meeting.
  • She will be passing by the store on her way home.
  • They will be closing the office for the holidays.

6. Atmosphere and Background Description

To set the scene or describe the atmosphere of a future situation:

  • Music will be playing, people will be dancing, and everyone will be enjoying themselves at the wedding.
  • The birds will be singing and the sun will be shining on our picnic day.
  • Tourists will be taking photos and guides will be explaining the history.

5. Future Continuous vs. Simple Future

Understanding the difference between Future Continuous and Simple Future helps you express yourself more precisely:

Future Continuous Simple Future Difference
I will be working at 6 PM. I will work until 6 PM. Continuous: in progress at that time
Simple: completed by that time
She will be traveling to Rome. She will travel to Rome. Continuous: emphasizes the journey
Simple: states the fact
Will you be using the computer? Will you use the computer? Continuous: more polite inquiry
Simple: direct question
They will be living in London. They will live in London. Continuous: temporary situation
Simple: permanent decision
I will be seeing him tomorrow. I will see him tomorrow. Continuous: already arranged
Simple: intention or promise

Key Differences:

  • Duration vs. Completion: Future Continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature; Simple Future focuses on completion
  • Specific Time vs. General Time: Future Continuous often refers to specific moments; Simple Future is more general
  • Politeness: Future Continuous questions sound softer and more polite
  • Arrangements vs. Decisions: Future Continuous often implies arrangements; Simple Future can be spontaneous decisions

6. Verbs Not Usually Used in Continuous Forms

Some verbs (state verbs) are rarely used in continuous tenses, including the Future Continuous. However, some can be used when they describe actions rather than states:

Usually NOT in Future Continuous:
  • Mental states: know, believe, understand, remember
    ❌ I will be knowing the answer.
    ✅ I will know the answer.
  • Emotions: love, hate, like, prefer
    ❌ She will be loving the movie.
    ✅ She will love the movie.
  • Possession: have (possess), own, belong
    ❌ He will be having a car.
    ✅ He will have a car.
  • Senses: see, hear, smell, taste (involuntary)
    ❌ I will be seeing the mountains.
    ✅ I will see the mountains.
CAN be used in Future Continuous (action meaning):
  • Think: I will be thinking about your offer. (considering)
  • Have: We will be having dinner at 8. (eating)
  • See: I will be seeing the doctor tomorrow. (meeting)
  • Taste: The chef will be tasting the soup. (action of tasting)
  • Feel: The doctor will be feeling your pulse. (touching)
  • Look: She will be looking at the photos. (action of looking)

Remember: When these verbs describe voluntary actions or temporary activities, they CAN be used in the Future Continuous. Context determines whether the continuous form is appropriate.

7. Time Expressions with Future Continuous

Certain time expressions are commonly used with the Future Continuous to indicate when actions will be in progress:

Specific Time Points

  • at + clock time (at 3 o'clock, at 7:30 PM)
  • at + parts of day (at noon, at midnight)
  • at + this time (at this time tomorrow)
  • at + the weekend
  • on + day (on Monday, on Christmas Day)
  • on + date (on July 15th)

Examples:

  • At 9 PM, I will be studying.
  • On Saturday, we will be traveling.
  • At this time next week, she will be working in Paris.

Time Periods

  • all + time period (all day, all week, all summer)
  • for + duration (for three hours, for a month)
  • from... to/until (from 9 to 5, from Monday until Friday)
  • during + event/period (during the meeting, during summer)
  • throughout + period (throughout the year)
  • between... and... (between 2 and 4 PM)

Examples:

  • I will be working all day tomorrow.
  • They will be traveling for two weeks.
  • She will be studying from morning until night.

Future Reference Points

  • This time + tomorrow/next week/next month
  • In + time period (in an hour, in two days, in a month)
  • Tomorrow/Next week/Next month + at this time
  • Soon/Later/Before long

Example sentences with multiple time expressions:

  • This time tomorrow, I will be sitting on a beach in Hawaii.
  • From 9 AM to 5 PM tomorrow, we will be attending the conference.
  • All next week, they will be renovating the kitchen.
  • In a few hours, she will be performing on stage.

8. Common Mistakes with Future Continuous

Incorrect Correct Explanation
I will be work at 6 PM. I will be working at 6 PM. Must use -ing form after "be"
She will working tomorrow. She will be working tomorrow. Need "be" before the -ing form
They will be study English. They will be studying English. Use -ing form, not base verb
I will be knowing the answer. I will know the answer. "Know" is a state verb - use Simple Future
He will be have a meeting. He will be having a meeting. Use "having" when "have" means an activity
We will be swiming. We will be swimming. Double the final 'm' before -ing
She is will be working. She will be working. Don't mix "is" with "will"
I will to be studying. I will be studying. No "to" after "will"
They will being travel. They will be traveling. Use "be" not "being"; verb needs -ing

9. Contractions in Future Continuous

In spoken English and informal writing, contractions are commonly used with the Future Continuous:

Will Contractions

Full Form Contraction Example
I will be working I'll be working I'll be working late tonight.
You will be studying You'll be studying You'll be studying hard for the exam.
He will be traveling He'll be traveling He'll be traveling to Asia.
She will be teaching She'll be teaching She'll be teaching a new course.
It will be raining It'll be raining It'll be raining all weekend.
We will be moving We'll be moving We'll be moving next month.
They will be waiting They'll be waiting They'll be waiting at the gate.

Going to Be Contractions

Multiple contractions are possible with "going to be":

  • I am going to be → I'm going to be → (informal speech: "I'm gonna be")
  • You are going to be → You're going to be → (informal: "You're gonna be")
  • He is going to be → He's going to be → (informal: "He's gonna be")

Note: "Gonna" is very informal and should only be used in casual spoken English, not in formal writing or professional contexts.

Future Continuous Practice Test

Choose the correct form of the Future Continuous tense for each sentence.

1. At 10 PM tonight, I ______ TV.

2. This time tomorrow, we ______ to Paris.

3. She ______ a presentation at 3 o'clock.

4. They ______ all day tomorrow.

5. The children ______ in the park this afternoon.

Fill in the Blanks - Basic

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the Future Continuous using "will".

Spelling Rules Practice

Write the -ing form of each verb correctly.

Future Continuous vs Simple Future

Choose the correct tense for each sentence.

1. At 8 PM, I ______ dinner. (eat)

2. I ______ you tomorrow. (see)

3. ______ you ______ the car tonight? (polite inquiry)

4. This time next week, we ______ on the beach. (lie)

5. I promise I ______ the work by Friday. (finish)

State vs Action Verbs

Choose the correct form. Some verbs cannot be used in the continuous form.

1. I ______ the answer by tomorrow. (know)

2. We ______ dinner at 8 PM. (have = eat)

3. She ______ the movie. (love)

4. I ______ the doctor at 3 PM. (see = meet)

5. The chef ______ all the dishes before serving. (taste = action)

Summary: Key Points to Remember

  1. The Future Continuous is formed with: will + be + verb-ing OR am/is/are + going to + be + verb-ing
  2. It describes actions in progress at a specific future time (At 8 PM, I will be studying)
  3. Use it for planned activities emphasizing duration (I will be working all day)
  4. It's more polite for inquiries than Simple Future (Will you be using the car?)
  5. Follow spelling rules for -ing forms: drop silent -e, double final consonant in CVC pattern, change -ie to -y
  6. State verbs (know, believe, love) usually aren't used in continuous forms
  7. Some verbs change meaning in continuous (see = meet, have = eat)
  8. Common time expressions: at + time, this time tomorrow, all day, for + duration
  9. Don't forget "be" between will and the -ing verb
  10. Use Future Continuous to set scenes and describe parallel future actions

The Future Continuous tense adds sophistication and precision to your English. It helps you describe future scenarios more vividly, make polite inquiries, and express the ongoing nature of future activities. Practice using it with different time expressions and in various contexts to master this important tense. Remember that while Simple Future states facts about the future, Future Continuous paints a picture of activities in progress!