FUTURE CONTINUOUS

TENSE/FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

STRUCTURES: Positive

Subject + will + be + verb + ing

I, You, He, She, We, They be will shopping at the mall all afternoon.

Negative

Subject + will + not + be + verb + ing

I, You, He, She, We, They won’t be swimming at the pool.

Questions

Question word + will + subject + be + verb + ing

What will he, she, you, we, they be doing when he arrives?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE is used for: Long term activities in the future : Examples : 1) My niece will be accompanying me on my

travels.2) I shall be working mainly in the hospital

laboratory.3) We shall be living in Brussel for the

foreseeable future.4) You’ll be co-operating with Jim and Lisa on

this project.

Activities that will be ongoing at a certain point in the future:

Examples : 1) Get off the bus at the Town Hall – I’ll be

waiting at the bus stop.2) This time next week I shall be basking in

the sun in Hawaii.3) Look out for me when you get off the train –

I’ll be wearing a red suit.4) I can’t meet you at eleven – I’ll be attending

a funeral then.5) My car won’t be available next Monday – it’ll

be being repaired.

To say what is probably the case at present:Examples : 1) Do phone your mother – she’ll be

wondering where you are.2) Bob’s name is on the list of winner – how

he’ll be gloating! 3) Their baby due any minute – they’ll be

hoping for a girl this time.

 To refer to planned events, particularly in connection with travel:

Examples : 1) We'll be spending the winter in

Australia. 2) Professor Craig will be giving a lecture

on Etruscan pottery tomorrow evening.

 To make polite enquiries, when we wish to know what somebody's plans are:

Examples:  

1. Will you be coming with me to the concert tonight?

2. Will you be going to the next meeting in December?

Remember

If you want to learn about somebody's intentions, you should never use the Future

Simple. Using the Future Simple implies that you want to influence somebody's decision. Questions become much more objective if

formed in the Future Continuous.

Will you come home? (= I want you to come home)

Will you be coming home?

Remember

Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences beginning with: while, when, before, by the

time, if, etc.

By the time, you will be finishing your paiting.