Future Continuous Tense – Questions, Negatives, and Negative Questions
Building on your knowledge of the affirmative Future Continuous tense, this lesson covers how to form questions, negative statements, and negative questions. These forms are essential for complete communication about ongoing future activities, asking about plans in progress, and expressing what won't be happening at specific future times.
The Future Continuous maintains its emphasis on actions in progress even in its negative and interrogative forms. You'll learn how to ask politely about future arrangements, express what won't be happening, and form sophisticated negative questions that sound natural in English conversation.
1. Forming Negative Statements
To make a negative statement in the Future Continuous, we add not after "will" or the "be" verb in "going to" constructions.
Method 1: Will Not Be + Verb-ing
Structure: Subject + will not (won't) + be + verb-ing
| Subject | Will Not | Contraction | Be + Verb-ing | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | will not | won't | be working | I won't be working tomorrow. |
| You | will not | won't | be studying | You won't be studying at midnight. |
| He | will not | won't | be sleeping | He won't be sleeping when you arrive. |
| She | will not | won't | be teaching | She won't be teaching next semester. |
| It | will not | won't | be raining | It won't be raining all day. |
| We | will not | won't | be traveling | We won't be traveling in August. |
| They | will not | won't | be waiting | They won't be waiting for us. |
Method 2: Not Going to Be + Verb-ing
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to be + verb-ing
| Subject | Be + Not | Contraction | Going to Be + Verb-ing | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | am not | I'm not | going to be working | I'm not going to be working late. |
| You | are not | aren't/you're not | going to be studying | You aren't going to be studying all night. |
| He | is not | isn't/he's not | going to be driving | He isn't going to be driving tomorrow. |
| She | is not | isn't/she's not | going to be presenting | She isn't going to be presenting today. |
| It | is not | isn't/it's not | going to be snowing | It isn't going to be snowing this weekend. |
| We | are not | aren't/we're not | going to be celebrating | We aren't going to be celebrating tonight. |
| They | are not | aren't/they're not | going to be moving | They aren't going to be moving next month. |
Usage Notes:
- Both forms express that an action will NOT be in progress at a specific future time
- "Won't be" is more common in everyday speech
- "Not going to be" often emphasizes a decision or plan NOT to do something
- Contractions are very common in spoken English and informal writing
2. Forming Yes/No Questions
To ask a yes/no question in the Future Continuous, we change the word order by moving the auxiliary verb before the subject.
Questions with Will
Structure: Will + subject + be + verb-ing + ?
| Will | Subject | Be + Verb-ing | Question | Short Answer (+) | Short Answer (-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will | I | be working | Will I be working alone? | Yes, you will. | No, you won't. |
| Will | you | be coming | Will you be coming to the party? | Yes, I will. | No, I won't. |
| Will | he | be using | Will he be using the car? | Yes, he will. | No, he won't. |
| Will | she | be staying | Will she be staying long? | Yes, she will. | No, she won't. |
| Will | it | be raining | Will it be raining tomorrow? | Yes, it will. | No, it won't. |
| Will | we | be meeting | Will we be meeting at 8? | Yes, we will. | No, we won't. |
| Will | they | be joining | Will they be joining us? | Yes, they will. | No, they won't. |
Questions with Going to
Structure: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to be + verb-ing + ?
| Be Verb | Subject | Going to Be + Verb-ing | Question | Short Answer (+) | Short Answer (-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am | I | going to be working | Am I going to be working late? | Yes, you are. | No, you aren't. |
| Are | you | going to be studying | Are you going to be studying tonight? | Yes, I am. | No, I'm not. |
| Is | he | going to be traveling | Is he going to be traveling alone? | Yes, he is. | No, he isn't. |
| Is | she | going to be teaching | Is she going to be teaching math? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn't. |
| Is | it | going to be snowing | Is it going to be snowing heavily? | Yes, it is. | No, it isn't. |
| Are | we | going to be leaving | Are we going to be leaving soon? | Yes, we are. | No, we aren't. |
| Are | they | going to be waiting | Are they going to be waiting for us? | Yes, they are. | No, they aren't. |
Remember: In short answers, we only use the auxiliary verb (will/won't or am/is/are), never the full verb phrase. We don't say "Yes, I will be" or "No, I won't be working."
3. Forming WH- Questions
WH- questions in the Future Continuous ask for specific information about ongoing future actions. They begin with question words like what, where, when, who, why, how, etc.
WH- Questions with Will
Structure: WH-word + will + subject + be + verb-ing + ?
Common WH- Questions:
- What will you be doing at 10 PM? (asking about activity)
- Where will she be working next year? (asking about location)
- When will they be arriving? (asking about time)
- Who will be attending the meeting? (asking about people)
- Why will he be leaving early? (asking about reason)
- How will you be traveling to Paris? (asking about method)
- How long will you be staying in London? (asking about duration)
- How many people will be coming to the party? (asking about quantity)
WH- Questions with Going to
Structure: WH-word + am/is/are + subject + going to be + verb-ing + ?
- What are you going to be wearing to the wedding?
- Where is he going to be living next month?
- When are they going to be finishing the project?
- Who is going to be helping us move?
- Why are you going to be working on Sunday?
- How is she going to be managing two jobs?
- How much are they going to be charging for the service?
Special Case: Subject Questions
When "who" or "what" is the subject of the question, we don't change the word order:
| Subject Question | Regular Question (for comparison) |
|---|---|
| Who will be teaching the class? (Who is the subject) | Who will you be teaching? (You is the subject) |
| What will be happening at noon? (What is the subject) | What will they be doing at noon? (They is the subject) |
| Who is going to be working late? (Who is the subject) | Who are you going to be working with? (You is the subject) |
4. Forming Negative Questions
Negative questions in the Future Continuous are used to express surprise, seek confirmation, make polite suggestions, or show concern. They often expect a particular answer.
Negative Questions with Will
Structure: Won't + subject + be + verb-ing + ?
Uses and Examples:
| Negative Question | Purpose | Expected Response |
|---|---|---|
| Won't you be coming to the party? | Expressing surprise/disappointment | Actually, yes I will. / No, I won't. |
| Won't she be working tomorrow? | Seeking confirmation | Yes, she will. / No, she won't. |
| Won't they be needing help? | Offering assistance politely | Yes, they will. / No, they won't. |
| Won't it be raining this afternoon? | Checking expectations | Yes, it will. / No, it won't. |
| Won't we be meeting John there? | Confirming arrangements | Yes, we will. / No, we won't. |
Negative Questions with Going to
Structure: Aren't/Isn't + subject + going to be + verb-ing + ?
- Aren't you going to be studying for your exam? (expressing concern)
- Isn't he going to be traveling with us? (seeking confirmation)
- Aren't they going to be staying longer? (expressing surprise)
- Isn't she going to be presenting her research? (checking plans)
- Aren't we going to be having dinner first? (confirming schedule)
Cultural Note: Negative questions can be confusing for language learners because the expected answer depends on the fact, not the form of the question:
- Question: "Won't you be working tomorrow?"
- If you WILL work: "Yes, I will" (agreeing with the positive fact)
- If you WON'T work: "No, I won't" (agreeing with the negative fact)
5. Summary Table of All Forms
| Type | With Will | With Going to |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | She will be working | She is going to be working |
| Negative | She won't be working | She isn't going to be working |
| Yes/No Question | Will she be working? | Is she going to be working? |
| WH- Question | Where will she be working? | Where is she going to be working? |
| Negative Question | Won't she be working? | Isn't she going to be working? |
| Short Answer (+) | Yes, she will. | Yes, she is. |
| Short Answer (-) | No, she won't. | No, she isn't. |
6. Common Time Expressions in Questions and Negatives
Time expressions are especially important in Future Continuous questions and negatives to specify when actions will or won't be in progress:
In Questions:
- What time will you be arriving?
- How long will you be staying?
- Will you be working this weekend?
- Are they going to be traveling all summer?
- Won't you be sleeping at midnight?
- Will she be teaching from 2 to 4 PM?
In Negatives:
- I won't be working tomorrow.
- They aren't going to be staying long.
- She won't be available between 3 and 5.
- We won't be traveling during the holidays.
- It won't be raining this time next week.
Common Question Patterns:
Asking about specific times:
- Will you be sleeping at 7 AM?
- What will you be doing at this time tomorrow?
- Will they be working when we arrive?
Asking about duration:
- How long will you be waiting?
- Will you be studying all night?
- Are you going to be working the whole day?
7. Uses of Questions and Negatives
When to Use Future Continuous Questions:
1. Polite Inquiries About Plans
Future Continuous questions sound more polite and less direct than Simple Future:
- Will you be using the conference room this afternoon? (more polite)
- Compare: Will you use the conference room? (more direct)
- Will you be joining us for dinner? (softer invitation)
- Will you be needing any assistance? (polite offer)
2. Asking About Ongoing Activities
- What will you be doing at 8 PM?
- Where will they be staying during their visit?
- How long will she be working on the project?
3. Confirming Arrangements
- Won't you be attending the conference?
- Will we be meeting at the usual place?
- Aren't they going to be waiting for us?
When to Use Future Continuous Negatives:
1. Stating Unavailability
- I won't be working next Monday. (I'll be off)
- She won't be teaching this semester. (on leave)
- The office won't be operating during the holidays.
2. Changed Plans or Cancellations
- We won't be traveling to Japan after all.
- They aren't going to be moving next month.
- The band won't be performing tonight.
3. Correcting Assumptions
- Actually, I won't be staying late today.
- No, we won't be having a meeting tomorrow.
- She won't be coming to the party - she's sick.
8. Common Mistakes with Questions and Negatives
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Will you be work tomorrow? | Will you be working tomorrow? | Need -ing form after "be" |
| Won't she is studying? | Won't she be studying? | Use "be" not "is" after "won't" |
| Are you going to working? | Are you going to be working? | Need "be" before -ing form |
| What you will be doing? | What will you be doing? | Correct word order: WH + will + subject |
| I won't be work there. | I won't be working there. | Always use -ing after "be" |
| Isn't she going be teaching? | Isn't she going to be teaching? | Don't omit "to" in "going to" |
| Yes, I will be. | Yes, I will. | Short answers use only auxiliary |
| Will be raining tomorrow? | Will it be raining tomorrow? | Don't omit the subject |
| Where will be you staying? | Where will you be staying? | Subject comes before "be" |
9. Tag Questions with Future Continuous
Tag questions are short questions added to statements to confirm information or seek agreement. They follow the same pattern as other tenses:
Rules for Tag Questions:
- Positive statement → negative tag
- Negative statement → positive tag
- Use the same auxiliary from the main statement
Examples with Will:
- You will be working tomorrow, won't you?
- She won't be coming to the party, will she?
- They will be staying with us, won't they?
- It won't be raining all day, will it?
Examples with Going to:
- You're going to be studying tonight, aren't you?
- He isn't going to be working late, is he?
- We're going to be traveling together, aren't we?
- They aren't going to be waiting long, are they?
Practice Test - Yes/No Questions
Choose the correct form to make a question in the Future Continuous.
Fill in the Blanks - Negative Statements
Complete each sentence with the correct negative form of the Future Continuous.
Fill in the Blanks - WH- Questions
Complete each WH- question with the correct form of the Future Continuous.
Short Answers Practice
Choose the correct short answer for each question.
Advanced Mixed Practice
Transform the sentences according to the instructions.
Summary: Key Points to Remember
- Negative with Will: Subject + won't + be + verb-ing (I won't be working)
- Negative with Going to: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to be + verb-ing (I'm not going to be working)
- Questions with Will: Will + subject + be + verb-ing? (Will you be coming?)
- Questions with Going to: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to be + verb-ing? (Are you going to be coming?)
- WH-Questions: Question word + will/be + subject + (going to) be + verb-ing?
- Negative Questions: Won't + subject + be + verb-ing? / Aren't/Isn't + subject + going to be + verb-ing?
- Short Answers: Use only the auxiliary verb (Will you...? Yes, I will. / Are you going to...? Yes, I am.)
- Always maintain the -ing form of the main verb in all constructions
- Future Continuous questions sound more polite than Simple Future questions
- Use time expressions to specify when actions will or won't be in progress
Mastering questions and negatives in the Future Continuous tense allows you to communicate more naturally about future plans and activities. These forms are particularly useful in professional and social contexts where politeness matters. Remember that the Future Continuous always emphasizes the ongoing nature of future actions, even in its negative and interrogative forms. Practice using these structures with different time expressions to become more confident in discussing what will and won't be happening at specific future times!