00 / Verbs & Tenses
Future Continuous
The future continuous describes actions that will be in progress at a specific point in the future. It is often used to discuss scheduled events or to make polite inquiries about someone's plans.
B2Upper Intermediate
01 / Overview
The future continuous focuses on the duration or the continuity of an action at a particular future time. It suggests that an event will start before a specific point and likely continue after it. It is also frequently used to project ourselves into the future to visualize an ongoing scene.
- To describe an action in progress at a specific time: At 10 PM tonight, I will be sleeping.
- To predict or discuss trends: In five years, more people will be working from home.
- To ask politely about future plans without sounding demanding: Will you be using the car later?
02 / Form
will + be + [verb]-ing
The structure remains consistent for all subjects. In negative sentences, not is placed between will and be. In questions, will moves to the front of the clause.
03 / Future Continuous vs. Future Simple
Use the future continuous when you want to emphasize that the action is a background state or a routine event rather than a new intention.
| Future Simple (will do) | Future Continuous (will be doing) |
|---|---|
| Focuses on the completion of an action or a decision made at the moment. | Focuses on the process or the duration of an action already planned. |
| I will have dinner at 8:00 (I start then). | I will be having dinner at 8:00 (I am in the middle of it). |
04 / Examples
05 / Common mistakes
I will be knowing the answer tomorrow.
I will know the answer tomorrow.
Stative verbs (like know, want, believe) are generally not used in the continuous form.
When you arrive, I will be wait for you.
When you arrive, I will be waiting for you.
The future continuous always requires the present participle (-ing) form of the main verb.
06 / Practice
Complete the sentence: 'At this time tomorrow, I ________ (fly) to New York.'
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Answer: will be flying
Why: The sentence refers to an action that will be in progress at a specific point in the future (this time tomorrow).
Change this question to be more polite using the future continuous: 'Will you go to the supermarket later?'
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Answer: Will you be going to the supermarket later?
Why: The future continuous is often used to ask about plans politely because it implies the action is already happening as part of a routine.
True or False: We use the future continuous with the verb 'understand'.
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Answer: False
Why: 'Understand' is a stative verb, and stative verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses.