Future continuous - Level II

The future continuous tense is one of the twelve verb tenses that exist in English. Like all continuous forms, this tense is easy to learn its structure, although students should mind the use of two auxiliary verbs. It has several uses, so students should be mindful in how to use them.

In this post we will learn the future continuous at level II, so the explanation is in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Uses of the future continuous

We use the future continuous for:

1. Predictions or guessing about future events or actions.

• If I keep practising, I’ll be skating well enough just in time for the competition.
• I expect Marisa will be coming to the party after all because Dick invited her.
• If all goes according to plan, our son will be finally getting married to the Count’s daughter.
• I guess you will be feeling silly if your get-rich scheme turns out to be a total failure.

2. Expressing a future event or action that happens at the same time or is interrupted by another event or action.

• By the time we get home, mom and dad will be finishing with the house renovations they started in August.
• Andrea will be working on her thesis when you call her, so better be quick with your call.
• By the time you receive this letter I will be boarding the plane to Tokyo for a business trip.
• When predators arrive to an area animals will be trying to hide so as to not draw attention to themselves.

3. Speak about an actions that happens at a specific time in the future.

• At 7:00am next week I will be climbing some icy slopes from a distant mountain.
• Paul will be driving through the countryside to Glastonbury to assist to Lilly’s wedding next October 26.
• The Mexican government will be opening new applications for their police department.
• Tonight’s opera will be closing the career of renowned opera singer Blind Mag, as it is her last show.

4. To politely ask information regarding future events.

• Will I be sleeping in this room in case I decide to book a reservation with your business?
• Will the King and Queen be visiting the grounds of the Crowley family in their tour through the country?
• Will you be keeping track of the time of cooking while I keep working on other household chores?
• Will they still be acquiring the product we offered after the generous discount was provided?

Note: for this, the interrogative sentence is always used.

Structure of the future continuous

Affirmative sentences

Subject + auxiliary verb (will) + to be + verb with -ing + rest of the sentence

• I will be starting a new business with Mike’s father once we gather the necessary money.
• I heard illustrious Dr. Monk will be attending university next year as the new Physics professor.
• Meghan will be visiting the local church in order to investigate the origin of the painting discovered last week.
• Elisa’s parents will be arriving at her home by the time David is at home with the kids.

Note: We usually use contractions for the auxiliary verb ‘will’ when not using a formal register.

• She will be seeing you soon = She’ll be seeing you soon.
• I will be working in Madrid next year = I’ll be working in Madrid next year.

Negative sentences

Subject + will not + to be + verb with -ing + rest of the sentence

• I will not be starting a new business with Mike’s father even if we gather the necessary money.
• I heard illustrious Dr. Monk will not be attending university next year as the new Physics professor.
• Meghan will not be visiting the local church in order to investigate the origin of the painting discovered last week.
• Elisa’s parents will not be arriving at her home by the time David is at home with the kids.

Note: We usually use contractions for the auxiliary verb ‘will’ when not using a formal register.

• I will not be going to the arena tonight = I won’t be going to the arena tonight.
• She will not be assisting tonight’s meeting = She won’t be assisting tonight’s meeting.

Interrogative sentences

Auxiliary verb (will) + subject + be + verb with -ing + rest of the sentence + ?

• Will I be starting a new business with Mike’s father once we gather the necessary money?
• Will illustrious Dr. Monk be attending university next year as the new Physics professor?
• Will Meghan be visiting the local church in order to investigate the origin of the painting discovered last week?
• Will Elisa’s parents be arriving at her home by the time David is at home with the kids?