Future Continuous Tense : Tips, Examples, and Exercises

The Future Continuous Tense is a grammatical structure used to describe actions or events that will be in progress at a specific point in the future. Often called the “future progressive tense,” this tense focuses on actions that will be ongoing or happening at a particular time in the future. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the Future Continuous Tense, detailing its structure, rules, usage, and providing practical examples.

What is the Future Continuous Tense?

The Future Continuous Tense is used to describe actions or events that will be ongoing or happening at a specific moment in the future. It emphasizes the duration or continuity of an action, especially when viewed from a future perspective. This tense answers questions like, “What will be happening at this time tomorrow?” or “What will be going on at a certain point in the future?”

Definitions from Major Dictionaries

• Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a tense that is used to “refer to temporary actions and events that will be in progress at a particular time in the future.”

• Collins Dictionary explains it as “used to suggest that something is about to happen or will happen at some time that is not clear or precise.”

This tense focuses not just on the action itself but on its progression over time. It is a versatile tool for expressing ongoing future events, giving clarity to timelines.

Structure and Formula of the Future Continuous Tense

Understanding the formula of the Future Continuous Tense is key to using it accurately. Here’s the basic structure:

Formula
Subject + Will + Be + Present Participle (verb + ing) + the rest of the sentence.

• Example 1: I will be studying at 9 PM tomorrow.

• Example 2: She will be meeting us at the café at 5:00 PM.

This formula allows you to express actions that will be ongoing at a specified point in the future.

The Structure in Different Sentence Forms

The Future Continuous Tense is flexible and can be used in various sentence forms, such as affirmative, negative, interrogative, and negative-interrogative sentences. Here’s how it looks in different structures:

• Affirmative (Positive)
  Subject + will + be + verb(-ing)
  Example: I will be working late tomorrow.

• Negative
  Subject + will not (won’t) + be + verb(-ing)
  Example: She won’t be traveling this weekend.

• Interrogative (Question)
  Will + subject + be + verb(-ing)?
  Example: Will you be attending the meeting tomorrow?

• Negative Interrogative (Question with Negative)
  Will + subject + not (won’t) + be + verb(-ing)?
  Example: Won’t he be helping you with the project?

Common Rules to Remember

When using the Future Continuous Tense, there are some important rules and guidelines to follow:

1. Use of Action Verbs: Like other continuous tenses, the future continuous tense should be used with action verbs only. It is not used with stative verbs (e.g., love, know, believe, etc.) because these verbs do not imply actions that can be continuous.

2. Use of Helping Verbs: The future continuous tense is formed using the helping verbs “will” and “be.” The word “will” expresses the future action, while “be” makes the tense continuous.

3. Time Reference: The future continuous tense refers to actions that will occur at a specific moment in the future, highlighting their ongoing nature. It’s important to specify the time when describing actions in this tense.

Key Uses of the Future Continuous Tense

The Future Continuous Tense can be used in several ways, depending on the context. Some of the primary uses include:

1. Denote an Action in Progress at a Specific Time in the Future

This tense is commonly used to describe what will be happening at a particular time in the future.

• Example: I will be studying for my final exams at 9 PM tomorrow.

2. Describe an Action Happening Over a Period of Time

The future continuous tense can indicate that an action will continue for some time, not just as a single, quick event.

• Example: We will be working on the project throughout next week.

3. Compare the Present and the Future

This tense can also be used to show how things might change from the present to the future.

• Example: Right now, I am living in the city, but next year, I will be living in the countryside.

4. Indicate Simultaneous Actions in the Future

When there are two or more actions happening at the same time, the future continuous tense is ideal for expressing this.

• Example: I will be attending the meeting, while she will be preparing the presentation.

Examples of the Future Continuous Tense

1. Denoting an Action at a Specific Time in the Future

The Future Continuous Tense is often used to express actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future. These actions typically occur in the middle of a particular timeframe or event.

• Example 1: At 7 PM tomorrow, I will be cooking dinner.

• Example 2: She will be flying to Paris at this time next week.

Both sentences indicate that the actions (cooking and flying) will be ongoing at a particular time in the future (7 PM tomorrow, and the same time next week).

2. Expressing an Action Over a Period of Time

Unlike simple future tenses that describe actions that will happen once, the future continuous tense is used for actions that will continue over a duration.

• Example 1: They will be traveling across Europe for the next six months.

• Example 2: We will be staying at the resort for a week.

These sentences indicate that the actions (traveling and staying) will be happening over an extended period.

3. Comparing the Present and the Future

The Future Continuous Tense can show a contrast between current actions and future actions, providing a deeper perspective on how things will unfold.

• Example 1: Right now, I am working on a project, but by next month, I will be focusing on a new one.

• Example 2: Today, she is living in the city, but by next year, she will be living on a farm.

In these examples, the sentences draw comparisons between the present situation and the future plans.

4. Indicating Simultaneous Actions in the Future

Often, the Future Continuous Tense is used to describe two or more actions happening at the same time in the future. This highlights the overlapping nature of events.

• Example 1: I will be attending the seminar, while my friend will be giving a lecture.

• Example 2: At 8 PM tonight, I will be watching a movie, and my brother will be playing a game.

Both examples demonstrate simultaneous actions that are planned to happen at the same future moment.

How Does the Future Continuous Tense Compare to Other Tenses?

It’s essential to understand how the Future Continuous Tense contrasts with other future tenses, particularly the simple future tense and future perfect tense.

Future Continuous vs. Simple Future Tense

• Simple Future Tense describes actions that will happen at a specific time in the future, but it doesn’t emphasize the continuous nature of the event.

  • Example (Simple Future): I will study tomorrow.

• Future Continuous Tense emphasizes that the action will be ongoing at a specific point in the future.

  • Example (Future Continuous): I will be studying tomorrow at 8 PM.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Tense

• Future Perfect Tense expresses actions that will be completed at some point in the future.

  • Example (Future Perfect): By 10 PM tomorrow, I will have finished the book.

• Future Continuous Tense expresses actions that will be ongoing at a particular future time.

  • Example (Future Continuous): Tomorrow at 10 PM, I will be reading the book.

While both tenses refer to future actions, the future perfect tense focuses on completion, whereas the future continuous tense focuses on ongoing actions.

Rules for Using the Future Continuous Tense

1. Action Verbs Only

As mentioned earlier, the future continuous tense is only used with action verbs. Stative verbs (like ‘be,’ ‘belong,’ ‘seem,’ etc.) do not work with this tense because they describe states, not actions.

• Correct Example: He will be working at the office tomorrow.

• Incorrect Example: He will be knowing the answer tomorrow.

2. Indicating Future Time with Precision

To effectively use the Future Continuous Tense, the time reference must be clear and precise. You cannot use this tense without a clear future timeframe.

• Example 1: She will be studying tomorrow at 7 PM.

• Example 2: We will be meeting them next Tuesday.

Without a time frame, it becomes unclear when the action is happening, which weakens the usage of this tense.

Advanced Uses of the Future Continuous Tense

While the basic uses of the Future Continuous Tense are quite straightforward, there are more nuanced applications of this tense that are important for fluency.

1. Politeness and Indirect Requests

In formal or polite contexts, the Future Continuous Tense can be used to make requests or ask questions in a more indirect or polite manner.

• Example 1: I will be meeting with the director tomorrow; could I ask if you could join us?

• Example 2: Will you be attending the conference next week?

By using the Future Continuous Tense, these questions sound more polite and less direct, which is often appropriate in formal or professional settings.

2. Conditional Statements with the Future Continuous Tense

The Future Continuous Tense is sometimes used in conditional sentences to talk about actions that will be in progress at a specific point in the future.

• Example 1: If you visit us next summer, we will be renovating our house.

• Example 2: If you call me tomorrow, I will be working, but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

In these cases, the Future Continuous Tense highlights actions that will be ongoing in the future depending on a condition.

3. Scheduled or Planned Future Events

The Future Continuous Tense is sometimes used for events that are scheduled or planned, especially in contexts where actions are expected to happen at a specific time.

• Example 1: This time next week, we will be flying to Japan for our vacation.

• Example 2: At 9 AM tomorrow, the team will be holding a meeting to discuss the project.

These examples show that the Future Continuous Tense is often used to convey planned or scheduled events that are expected to take place at a specific moment in time.

Common Mistakes When Using the Future Continuous Tense

Learning to use the Future Continuous Tense correctly can be challenging. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

1. Using the Future Continuous with Stative Verbs

One of the most common mistakes learners make is attempting to use the Future Continuous Tense with stative verbs. Remember, stative verbs describe a state of being, emotion, or condition, and they do not convey actions. As such, they are not typically used in continuous tenses.

• Incorrect Example: I will be knowing the answer by tomorrow.

• Correct Example: I will know the answer by tomorrow.

2. Omitting the Time Reference

The Future Continuous Tense requires a clear time reference to show when the action will be happening. Without it, the meaning of the sentence becomes unclear.

• Incorrect Example: I will be traveling next week.

• Correct Example: I will be traveling to Paris next week.

By adding “to Paris” to the sentence, you specify when and where the action will occur, making the sentence more precise.

3. Confusing Future Continuous with Simple Future Tense

Another common mistake is confusing the Future Continuous Tense with the Simple Future Tense. While both refer to future actions, the Future Continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.

• Incorrect Example: I will study tomorrow evening.

• Correct Example: I will be studying tomorrow evening.

The first sentence (Simple Future) suggests a one-time action, while the second (Future Continuous) indicates that the action will be happening at a specific time and will continue.

4. Using “Will” in Negative Questions

In negative questions, learners sometimes use “will” incorrectly. For example, they may say “Will not be” instead of using the contraction “Won’t be.”

• Incorrect Example: Will not you be attending the meeting tomorrow?

• Correct Example: Won’t you be attending the meeting tomorrow?

Using the contraction “won’t” helps the sentence sound more natural and fluent in English.

Tips for Mastering the Future Continuous Tense

To master the Future Continuous Tense, keep these tips in mind:

1. Practice Regularly: The more you practice constructing sentences in the Future Continuous Tense, the more natural it will become. Try writing short stories or describing your future plans in this tense.

2. Use Context Clues: Pay attention to time expressions and context when deciding when to use the Future Continuous Tense. Common time expressions include “at 5 PM,” “tomorrow,” “next week,” and “by the time.”

3. Distinguish Between Simple Future and Future Continuous: Make sure you understand when to use the Future Continuous to emphasize the duration of an action versus the Simple Future to talk about one-time future events.

4. Understand the Function of the Tense: Remember, the Future Continuous Tense is for actions in progress at a specific point in the future, not for actions that will happen once.

 

Exercise: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the Future Continuous Tense:

1. By this time tomorrow, we ____________ (arrive) in New York.

2. At 10 AM, I ____________ (have) breakfast with my colleagues.

3. They ____________ (stay) at the hotel for the weekend next month.

4. At 5 PM, I ____________ (attend) a conference call.

5. This time next year, we ____________ (celebrate) our 10th anniversary.

6. At 8 PM tonight, I ____________ (watch) the new episode of my favorite show.

7. Tomorrow, at 3 PM, I ____________ (drive) to the airport.

8. We ____________ (work) on the project all day tomorrow.

9. By the end of the week, they ____________ (complete) their tasks.

10. He ____________ (meet) with the client next Monday at 4 PM.

Answer 

1. By this time tomorrow, we will be arriving in New York.

2. At 10 AM, I will be having breakfast with my colleagues.

3. They will be staying at the hotel for the weekend next month.

4. At 5 PM, I will be attending a conference call.

5. This time next year, we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary.

6. At 8 PM tonight, I will be watching the new episode of my favorite show.

7. Tomorrow, at 3 PM, I will be driving to the airport.

8. We will be working on the project all day tomorrow.

9. By the end of the week, they will have completed their tasks. (Note: This is Future Perfect Tense, not Continuous, but could still work depending on context).

10. He will be meeting with the client next Monday at 4 PM.