Greetings, my dear readers.
What do you know about the Future Continuous tense? We encounter it very rarely, but it will still be useful to know it. Today we will get to know it in great detail: through rules and examples, exercises and tests.
How is it formed
As in the simple future tense, the formation of the Future Continuous Tense is not particularly difficult. Nothing changes here in any form. Standard the sentence structure looks like this:
Subject + auxiliary verb will\shall be + predicate ending –ing + object and circumstances
She will be waiting for her at the airport tomorrow. - Tomorrow she will be waiting for her at the airport.
When I come back, you will be sleeping. - When I return, you will be asleep.
Now, having understood the examples, let's see what will change in different forms of proposal.
|
Interrogative form |
|
| Shall I be celebrating? | Shall we be celebrating? |
| Will you be celebrating? | Will you be celebrating? |
| Will he\she\it be celebrating? | Will they be celebrating? |
A very common question among beginners or those who are recovering their English after school: when to use shall, and when to use will? I will answer this way: shall has its place in English as a modal verb, but in relation to the future tense it is used less and less.
Well, now, if we already know how this tense is formed, it’s time to learn about its use.
When to use: beginner level
- The first and most important thing to understand is that the action will take place at a specific moment in the future. Typically these sentences use the following words:
- This time on Monday\tomorrow\next week
- At 9 a.m.
- In the evening\morning
- In a month\year
I shall be watching a movie this time on Friday evening. - On Friday evening at this time I will watch a movie.
I shall be working in a position of a head manager next year. - Next year I will work as a senior manager.
- When talking about planned actions, you don't have to choose whether to use the Future Continuous or the Present Continuous.
He will be leaving for Madrid on Monday evening. = He is leaving for Madrid on Monday evening. - On Monday morning he flies to Madrid.
- When we need to describe something lasting that will happen in some specific future period. Words that will help you include all day, all summer, the whole evening, from 5 till 8.
I shall be preparing for my exam all day. - I will study for the exam all day.
From 5 till 8 p.m. I shall be having my dance classes. - From 5 to 8 pm I will be at dance classes.
When to use: “confident user” level
- When we need to describe a habit in the future, we can use the Future Continuous.
I believe that in a couple of years more and more people will be working from home. - I am sure that in a few years more and more people will work from home.
- It is important to understand the significant difference between this tense and the Future Simple. When we use the former, we talk about plans, when we use the latter, we invite. Let's look at an example.
Will you be going to our family dinner tonight? -Are you going to our family dinner today? (We learn about man's plans)
Will you go to our family dinner tonight? - Will you come to our family dinner today? (We invite a person)
- And now a little from everyday life. Sometimes we can ask a person something with the goal of then asking him to do something for us. In such situations we use the Future Continuous.
Will you be going to the bank? Pay for my phone bill, please. -Are you going to the bank? Pay my phone bill, please.
Will you be flying to India? Bring me some coconut oil please. - Will you fly to India? Bring me some coconut oil, please.
Now let's get serious, but with a smile: without practice you won't get anywhere. Therefore, quickly proceed and consolidate the received material. There will be individual sentences, texts, and tests - tasks for every taste.
And if something remains unclear, write me your questions in the comments. I'll be happy to help you. And don’t miss anything important - subscribe to my blog newsletter. There I share important and useful materials first.
Until we meet again, my dears.
No matter how true the saying about the disposed God is, people still stubbornly continue to make their plans. And today we will talk about how to tell your interlocutor about your immediate intentions, while emphasizing not the fact itself, but the process of taking actions, i.e. being busy doing something at a certain time. By analogy with the present tense that has already been studied, you probably guessed that we will be talking about the continuum of the future. And examples of specific situations, design diagrams and explanatory comparisons will help us get acquainted with the future continuous aspect.
Constructing sentences with the Future Continuous
The future continuous tense requires the construction of a compound predicate consisting of three elements: the auxiliary will, the verb to be (without to) and the invariable participle I.
- Jack (1) will (2) be (3) writing (4) tests at exactly this time tomorrow – JackwillwriteTomorrowtestsexactlyVThistime.
The design is easy to remember and recognize in the future. Its use also does not cause problems, because... the combination is the same for absolutely all types of pronouns and nouns. The abbreviated form will ⟶ ‘ll (you’ll be..., we’ll be..., etc.) is often used in spoken and written speech.
Interrogative sentences using the future continuous are formed, as in other English aspects of the future, by breaking the predicate and moving will to the beginning of the sentence. At the same time, to be and the participle I remain in their original places.
- Will (1) Jessica (2) be (3) painting (4) the picture the whole evening? – Will Jessica draw this picture all evening?
If there is a special question word, will gives it first place in the expression.
- What will your brother be doing at 12 o'clock tomorrow? – Howis yoursBrotherwillbusyTomorrowat 12hours?
Negations in the continuous future are built using not. It is placed immediately after will, resulting in the shortened form won't. Note that with 1 person ( pronounsI, we) in English, instead of will, the auxiliary shall is used. For such situations, the shortened expression is shan’t.
We (1) will (2) not (3) be (4)working (5) on Tuesday –WeNotwe willworkinTuesday.
If the context requires it, a combination of negative and interrogative forms in one statement is possible. In this case, will comes forward, and not remains before the verb to be. But the abbreviated constructions won’t/shan’t are not separated, but are transferred entirely to the beginning of the sentence.
- Will she not be playing the violin tomorrow in the morning? –SheNotwillplayonviolinTomorrowin the morning?
- Won't you be driving to the dacha in the evening? –YouNotwill you goIn the eveningondacha?
So, we have learned how to build future continuous tense constructions for various purposes. It remains to consider the cases of using this tense, and our English will be replenished with another mastered grammatical category.
Future Continuous examples of sentence contexts
For this tense, several main cases of use can be distinguished. Let's look at them using the future continuous table, which contains examples taken from everyday speech and revised with translation into Russian. In addition, the material contains signal words by which this time aspect can be easily recognized.
|
Using the Future Continuous |
||
| Situation | Example | Translation |
| 1. Expression of the execution of some action or the occurrence of events in the future associated with a specific time indicator. Both time circumstances and other events/actions can act as a pointer. | I will be studying English from 4 till 6 o’clock on Monday. Her son will be playing football when she goes to the post office. Alex will be watching these movies all day tomorrow. |
I will study English on Monday from 4 to 6 pm.
Her son will be playing football when she goes to the post office. Alex will be watching these films all day tomorrow. |
| 2. Designation of the period of long-term action. The process is considered unified, even if it is logically clear that the action is carried out intermittently. | We will be repairing the boat during next week. Will you be rehearsing this song all month? He will be reading the War and Peace for two months. |
We will be repairing the boat all next week.
Will you be rehearsing this song all month? |
| 3. Expression of two parallel actions in the future. | While my brother is doing his homework, I will be watching the cartoons. She won't be washing the dishes and I shan't be washed the car in the evening. |
While my brother does his homework, I will watch cartoons.
She won't wash the dishes in the evening, and I won't wash the car. |
| 4. Predictable actions or events that will occur in the near future. | We must call right now or our parents will be worrying.
I am sure they will be writing me about their pets again. |
We have to call right now or our parents will worry.
I'm sure they will write to me again about their pets. |
| Time markers: at this time, at… o’clock tomorrow; all day, in the evening/morning; in…hours, days; from…till today, tomorrow and etc. | ||
Please note that the examples of various sentences given in the future continuous can also be used in the Future Simple form. But the semantic difference is that in continuum we focus on the process that will continue at a specified time, while in simple the simple fact of the actions being performed is important.
- I will be playing atthistime - I will play at this time(the game process is a long action, indicating time).
- I will play tomorrow – I will play tomorrow(fact of action, without indicating the time and duration of the event).
In order not to miss new useful materials,
Future Continuous(continuous future tense) is widely used in English. Like all the times of the group Continuous, it conveys a continuous action occurring at a specific moment specified in the context. Future Continuous will help you diversify your speech, since in some cases it can be an alternative Future Simple or Present Continuous.
How is the Future Continuous formed?
Statement
An affirmative sentence consists of a subject, an auxiliary verb will be and the main verb ending - ing.
| I/He/She/It/We/You/They + will be + verb- ing | |
|---|---|
| I will be speak ing
. - I will speak. He will be build ing . - He will build. She will be eat ing . - She will eat. It will be operat ing . - It will work. |
We will be draw ing
. - We will draw. You will be think ing . - You will think. They will be walk ing . - They will walk. |
Negation
In negative sentences between will And be a particle appears not.
| I/He/She/It/We/You/They + will not be + verb- ing | |
|---|---|
| I will not be speak ing
. - I will not speak. He will not be build ing . - He won't build. She will not be eat ing . - She won't eat. It will not be operat ing . - It won't work. |
We will not be draw ing
. - We won't draw. You will not be think ing . - You won't think. They will not be walk ing . - They won't go for walks. |
Verb will usually takes a shortened form. In a statement it is combined with a pronoun, in negation - with a particle not:
- He'll be building.
- We'll be drawing.
- You won't be thinking.
- They won't be walking.
Question
In order to construct an interrogative sentence, we put in first place will, after it the subject, then be and main verb.
| Will I/he/she/it/we/you/they + be + verb- ing | |
|---|---|
| Will I be speak ing
? - I will speak? Will he be build ing ? - Will he build? Will she be eat ing ? – Will she eat? Will it be operat ing ? – Will it work? |
Will we be draw ing
? - Shall we draw? Will you be think ing ? – Will you think? Will they be walk ing ? - Will they go for a walk? |
Time Future Continuous is not considered at the initial stage of teaching English. We have divided the functions of this time into 2 groups: the yellow block contains functions necessary for an average level, and the red block – for a high level.
Where does the Future Continuous occur?
Average level
- Future Continuous shows an action that will take place at a specific time in the future. The sentence does not indicate when the event will begin or end. We focus on the fact that at a particular moment the action will last.
In this case, the duration of action is indicated using the following words: this time tomorrow / next week(this time tomorrow/next week), at 3 o'clock tomorrow(at 3 o'clock tomorrow), at 10 a.m.(at 10 am), in the morning/afternoon/evening(morning/afternoon/evening), tonight at 6 p.m.(tonight at 6 o'clock) at noon(at noon), at midnight(at midnight), in a week/month/year(in a week/month/year).
Trevor will be watching a football match tomorrow at 8 p.m.– Trevor will watch football tomorrow at 8 pm.
I will be studying at the university in a year. - I will be studying in the University in a year.
- Future Continuous used to politely ask a person about his plans for the near future. In such situations, we want this person to do something for us. We are trying to find out if his plans coincide with our desires.
Will you be going to the kitchen later? Bring me a glass of soda. - You will you go to the kitchen later? Grab me a glass of soda.
I don't like public transport. Will you be driving a car to get to the airport? – I don’t like public transport. You will you go to the airport by car?
- Future Continuous used in the same way as Present Continuous: To communicate planned actions that will happen in the near future.
They will be leaving for Chicago next week. = They are leaving for Chicago next week. - They are leaving in Chicago next week.
We will be jogging with Julia in the park today. = We are jogging with Julia in the park today. - We let's run with Julia in the park today.
Complex cases of using the Future Continuous
High level
- Future Continuous shows an action that the speaker believes will happen in the future. The reason for this belief may be a consequence of the natural course of events or the result of an agreement.
I can ask John to call you. I 'll be seeing him tomorrow. – I can ask John to call you. I see you with him tomorrow.
He won't be taking part in a competition as he has seriously hurt his arm. - He will not take part in competitions, as he seriously injured his hand.
- We use Future Continuous as a neutral replacement Future Simple. In such cases Future Continuous shows that the speaker is only interested in plans, while Future Simple sounds like an invitation, an interest, a desire to do something.
Will you be going to a new restaurant with us tonight? - You will you go with us to a new restaurant tonight? (we are only interested in plans: whether a person will or will not go to a restaurant with us)
Will you go to a new restaurant with us tonight? – Let's go to with us to a new restaurant tonight. (we invite you to come with us)
That's it for the list of features Future Continuous comes to the end. As you can see, the list is small. Take the quiz to practice using this time, and don't forget to download the education worksheet Future Continuous Tense.
(*.pdf, 184 Kb)
Test
Future Continuous - long future tense in English
The future continuous tense implies an action or event that will occur over a period of time. Unlike the simple future, in which the statement of fact is important, when using a long tense, the emphasis is on the process of action. In Russian this line is quite thin.
Education Future Continuous
- Statement.
When forming an affirmative form, the future tense “to be” (shall be/will be) is used in combination with a verb, through which the action or meaning of what is happening is conveyed. is put in the form of the present participle. Simply put, the ending -ing is added.
She will be running in the morning. - She will run in the morning.
- Question.
As for the interrogative form, it differs from the above in that the auxiliary verb is located at the beginning of the sentence.
Will she be running? -Will she run?
- Negation.
The order of the parts of speech in a sentence with a negative form is as follows: the subject, then shall be or will be, the particle “not”, and then the semantic verb ending in -ing.
She will not be running. - She won't run.
- Negative question.
The particle "not" follows the subject. That is, the word order is as follows: shall be/will be, subject, particle “not”, semantic verb (with an “ing” ending).
Will she not be running? -Won't she run?
- Passive form.
The Future Continuous form exists only in the active voice. In the passive mood, the future continuous tense is not used. Previously, it was possible to express an event or action directed at the subject through a passive form, but the English language is changing towards simplification. If you need to use it in the future tense, then Simple is used instead of Continuous.
This book will be read by me. - The book will be read by me.
More details in the table
The Roman numeral IV refers to the participle of a verb ending in -ing or the fourth form).
Most common abbreviations
The shortened form is used mainly in colloquial speech. The following abbreviations are allowed in English:
- I shall = I"ll.
- We shall = We"ll.
- You will = you"ll.
- He will = he"ll.
- She will = she"ll.
- It will = it"ll.
- They will = they"ll.
- Shall not = shan"t.
- Will not = won't.
In addition to the above phrases, the following abbreviated forms are also widely used:
- I am - I"m.
- Don't - don't.
- Are not - aren't.
In what cases is the future continuous tense used?
The temporary form Future Continuous is used when it is necessary to focus on the duration, and not on the very fact of performing an action. With rare exceptions, it is translated into Russian using the imperfect form of the verb.
Future Continuous: example sentences and rules
1. Designation of a continuous action, the beginning of which preceded the mentioned moment and continued over a certain period of time.
2. In addition, The Future Continuous Tense is often used along with the simple future (Future Indefinite). The only difference is that with the help of a long time the process is emphasized, and the future indefinite time conveys only the very fact of performing an action. In Russian this difference is not always noticeable.
She will be playing the piano the whole morning.
She will play the piano the whole morning. - She will play the piano all morning.
3. However, Future Continuous does not always convey a long action. Sometimes it can be used to express confidence that a certain event will happen, or to express a firm intention to do something.
I"ll be visiting her tomorrow. - Tomorrow I will come to visit her.
4. An expression of continued action that will take a specified period of time. It is not necessary that the action be performed continuously throughout this period of time. The following phrases are often found: all day long, the whole morning, all winter etc.
She will be studying all summer. - She will study all summer.
Features and rules for forming the present participle (ing form)
The form of a word ending in ing includes the present participial form of the verb, the gerund, and the present participle of the verb to form the future continuous tense. When forming a participle, it is important to consider the following:
- consonants at the end of a word are doubled if the word consists of one syllable: sit - sitting, stop - stopping;
- the word ends in -e, then -e is removed and put - ing: dance - dancing, change - changing;
- the ending -ie changes to -y: lie - lying;
- in other cases, the verb is supplemented with the ending -ing without any changes to the word: study - studying, work - working.
In order to have a good understanding of the rules for using tenses in English, you can practice composing your own sentences and dialogues. For a better understanding, you need to apply the knowledge gained.
No matter how boring grammar may be at times, its many laws and exceptions, you cannot run away or hide from it. English, like any other language, is firmly based on rules and patterns. One of the nuances that is important to understand is the Future Continuous.
If you have already reached this rule, then you completely understand the meaning of this tense - future continuous. Comparing with other brothers from this group (Present Continuous, Past Continuous), you will see one common feature - all three tenses emphasize the duration of the process. In this article we will look specifically at actions in the future.
Education Future Continuous Tense
According to all standards, first you need to understand the rules of education of this time. Compared to the past and present, the future continuous is very easy to remember and use all forms. As always, you will need auxiliary verbs to describe upcoming events. will/shall . Plus a verb is added to them to be (without the particle to) and a predicate with an ending -ing.
And, of course, it’s important to know short forms, since when pronounced the phrase is easier to perceive.
I shall = I'll
shall not = shan’t
will not = won't
I shall be sleeping at 11 o’clock tomorrow. = I’ll be sleeping at 11 o’clock tomorrow. — Tomorrow at 11 I will sleep.
I shall not be sleeping at 11 o’clock tomorrow. = I shan’t be sleeping at 11 o’clock tomorrow. Tomorrow at 11 I will not sleep.
Modern English recognizes the will form in all cases.
Using Future Continuous (Future Progressive)
1. Like the entire family of continuous tenses, the Future Continuous is used to describe actions in development at a certain moment, but with reference to the future.
- clear from the context.
Our work is not finished yet and we shall be working at this subject. - Our work is not finished yet, and we will work on this problem.
- expressed circumstance of time: all day tomorrow, at 5 o’clock tomorrow, from 5 till 8, at that time tomorrow and talks about plans for the near future.
I shall be waiting for my friends at 6 o’clock tomorrow. — I will wait for my friends tomorrow at 6 o’clock.
- parallel actions in the future using while, or in subordinate clauses with when, where the phrase in the secondary clause is expressed Present Simple, despite the fact that the action refers to the future. In this case, the subordinate clause seems to interrupt the main one and interfere with the process.
She will be working when you come to see her. - When you come to her, she will work.
While he will be cooking dinner she will be watching TV. — While he cooks dinner, she will watch TV.
2. How polite request. If we ask about plans and intentions, then it is better to express it in the future continuous tense, it sounds softer.
Will you be using this car this evening? — Will you need a car in the evening?
3. How planned action, agreement.
I shall be going to the city later. Can I bring smth to you? — I'll go to the city later. Should I bring you anything?
Comparison of Future Simple and Continuous
If we want to express an action, for example, that occurs in the middle of some event in the future at a certain time, or about plans and deliberate actions, then we use the Continuous. And if simply as a message about a future event, as a “prediction”, an assumption made “on the go” - Simple. Let's look at examples Future Continuous and Simple:
He will not work in the garden. — He won't work in the garden, as an assumption.
He will not be working in the garden. - He will not work in the garden based on some circumstances, or the action has already been thought out and planned.
This tense does not appear very often in speech, but you need to know it. Remember, the main difference between Continuous and other continuous tenses is not only the duration, but also the exact indication of time or period in the future. If you complete several tests and assignments, your knowledge will strengthen. You can find exercises on the Future Continuous on our website and check all the information you have learned.
Exercises on Future Continuous
Choose the right option.
- I shall go/shall be going to the party when my brother arrives.
- Will you pass / will you be passing me the books from him tomorrow?
- I'm sure Tom will give up/is giving up the job.
- Jack isn't free on Monday. He will write/ will be writing at home .
- Jim is going to study from 7 till 10 this evening. So at 8.30 this evening he will learn/will be learning new words.
- While I shall read/shall be reading this poem she will play / will be playing the piano.
- When you call him he will sleep/ will be sleeping.
- I hope the next mail will bring/ will be bringing news from home.
- Her homework is not finished. She will work/will be working at it.
- At what time will you be/ will you be at home?
- shall be going - 2
- Will you pass - 1
- will give up - 1
- will be writing. — 2
- will be learning - 2
- shall be reading/ will be playing - 2
- will be sleeping - 2
- will bring - 1
- will be working - 2
- will you be -1.