Future continuous

Verb tenses

1. Future continuous

This time tomorrow I'll be spending time with my son.

In the future, we'll be using autonomous cars.

2. Structure of Future continuous

• Affirmative form
  

  Subject	Auxiliary	Be	Verb (-ing)	Examples
  I	will 'll	be	sleeping	I will be sleeping all afternoon.
  You				You will be sleeping all afternoon.
  He				He will be sleeping all afternoon.
  She				She will be sleeping all afternoon.
  It				It will be sleeping all afternoon.
  We				We will be sleeping all afternoon.
  You				You will be sleeping all afternoon.
  They				They will be sleeping all afternoon.

• Negative form
  

  Subject	Auxiliary	Be	Verb (-ing)	Examples
  I	will not won't	be	sleeping	I won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  You				You won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  He				He won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  She				She won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  It				It won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  We				We won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  You				You won't be sleeping all afternoon.
  They				They won't be sleeping all afternoon.

• Interrogative form
  

  Auxiliary	Subject	Be	Verb (-ing)	Examples
  Will	I	be	sleeping?	Will I be sleeping all afternoon?
  	you			Will you be sleeping all afternoon?
  	He			Will he be sleeping all afternoon?
  	She			Will she be sleeping all afternoon?
  	It			Will it be sleeping all afternoon?
  	We			Will we be sleeping all afternoon?
  	You			Will you be sleeping all afternoon?
  	They			Will they be sleeping all afternoon?

Interrogative sentences in future continuous have their own short answers.

- Will you be watching the debate, tonight?

- Yes, I will.

3. How do we use the future continuous?

The future continuous is used for:

• An action that will be taking place at a specific time in the future. The action will have begun before that specific moment and will continue after it.
  
  

  At 6:00, he'll be giving a lecture on motivation.

  

  This afternoon I won't be working in the garden.
• Predictions or assumptions about events in the present or future.
  
  

  In 20 years' time, I'll be flying through space.

  

  Paul probably won't be studying now.
• Unfinished actions that will continue in the future. The action is already taking place in the present moment.
  
  

  I'll be ironing all morning.

  

  He'll be reading for a good while.
• In interrogative sentences, to ask for information about the future politely.
  
  

  Will Mike be having lunch with us?

  

  Which optional subjects will you be taking?

Remember!