verb tense future continuousis employed by native speakers and language learners with the aim of highlighting the continuous aspect of a certain action or event that occurs in the future|1|. It can also be used with the aim of pointing out the duration of some event or action that takes place in the future.
In this text, we will explore both the use of the future continuous as its structure exemplifying each type of sentence, affirmative, negative and interrogative. That way there will be no doubts about this tense when you study it and use it in different contexts. Let’s go!
Read too: regular verbs: how to use?
When to use the futurecontinuous?
Before delving into the structural issue of future continuous, we will focus on the main point of this tense, that is, its most appropriate use in different contexts. It is not enough to learn the structural rules, it is important that the foreign language learner knows When and why use certain language structure.
O future continuous has two important aspects. First, it deals with
future actions. Second, it concerns the continuum of something, that is, the progression and/or the duration of an action or event. These two ideas together help to differentiate it from other verb tenses (simple future, present continuousetc.).Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
As for the use, the future continuous to emphasize the continuing aspect of an action or event at some point in the future. When this action takes place, we will be “in the middle of it”|2|.
they will be celebrating her birthday when you get home from work.
(They will be celebrating her birthday when you get home from work.)
The celebration will take place before the other subject arrives, and will be in progress by the time you arrive.
O future continuous also indicates the duration of an action or an event at some specific point in the future|1|.
Susan will be eating dinner by 8 pm
(Susan will be having dinner at 8 pm.)
In this example, the durative aspect of the action (dinner) at a certain point in the future (at 8 pm) is clear.
Taking into account the uses of future continuous, in the following topics, we will study the main structural rules of that time.
See too: what are the modal verbs?
Main rules of futurecontinuous
Regarding the structure, the future continuous is formed by the auxiliary verb will + verb to be + present participle -ing of the main verb. Note in the following subtopics this structure in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences:
Affirmative form
|
AFFIRMATIVE To work = work | |||
|
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they (subject) |
will (assistant) |
well (verbI'mwell) |
working. (ing-ing) |
- I will be working this summer.
(I will be working this summer.) She will be watching a movie next week.
(She will be watching a movie next week.)Negative form
|
NEGATIVE To work = work | |
|
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they (subject) |
will not (assistant) |
|
Note that the verb is not inflected for any person. You can use the contracted form of will + not = won’t |
They won’t be traveling when you come to visit grandma.
(They won't be traveling when you come to visit grandma.)Peter won’t be eating cake for a long time.
(Peter will not eat [will be eating] cake for a long time.)Interrogative form
|
INTERROGATIVE To work = work | |
|
will I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they (assistant will + subject) |
well (verb to be) |
Note that the verb is not inflected for any person. |
Willthey be moving by December?
(Will they be moving in December?)Will you be resting next vacations?
(Will you be resting on your next vacation?)
Also access: going to – another way to express the future
Difference between futurecontinuous and futureperfect
the futureperfectin order to express some action that will be completed before a specific time in the future. While the future continuous it is related to the duration or continuity of an action in the future.
O future perfect is formed by the auxiliary verb will + have + past participle of the verb main. By and before are often used in the future perfect|1|:
She will have finished the final tests by the end of the month.
(She will have finished her finals by the end of the month.)I will have graduated before spring.
(I will have graduated before spring.)
Exercise solved
Question 1 - Complete the following sentences with the future continuous of the verbs below. Note the context:
eat buy sleep finish |
Carl ______________ the book very soon, because it is missing only ten pages.
They ______________ more CDs, as they have just bought new ones.
My parents ______________ by the time I get home.
Donna ______________ chocolate, because she is allergic to it.
Resolution
will be finishing
won't be buying
will be sleeping
won't be eating
Grades
|1| DECAPUA, A. grammar for teachers:a guide to American English for native and non-native speakers. Springer: New York, 2008.
|2| EASTWOOD, J. Oxford guide to English grammar. Oxford, 2002.
By Patricia Veronica Moreira
English teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
MOREIRA, Patricia Veronica. "Future continuous"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/future-continuous.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
