Future Continuous (Future Progressive)
The Future Continuous tense describes actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. It emphasises the ongoing nature of the future action.
We form the Future Continuous with will be + the -ing form of the verb. The same form is used for all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
Formation
Positive Form
Form the Future Continuous with will be + verb-ing. Contractions ('ll) are common in spoken English.
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| I will be reading at 8pm | I'll be reading at 8pm |
| You will be travelling next week | You'll be travelling next week |
| He will be working late tomorrow | He'll be working late tomorrow |
| She will be studying at the library | She'll be studying at the library |
| It will be raining at midnight | It'll be raining at midnight |
| We will be watching the film at 7pm | We'll be watching the film at 7pm |
| They will be playing football in the afternoon | They'll be playing football in the afternoon |
Negative Form
Add 'not' after 'will' to form negatives. The contraction 'won't' is commonly used.
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| I will not be reading at 8pm | I won't be reading at 8pm |
| You will not be travelling next week | You won't be travelling next week |
| He will not be working late tomorrow | He won't be working late tomorrow |
| She will not be studying at the library | She won't be studying at the library |
| It will not be raining at midnight | It won't be raining at midnight |
| We will not be watching the film at 7pm | We won't be watching the film at 7pm |
| They will not be playing football in the afternoon | They won't be playing football in the afternoon |
Yes/No Questions
Move 'will' before the subject to form questions.
Examples:
- Will I be reading at 8pm?
- Will you be travelling next week?
- Will he be working late tomorrow?
- Will she be studying at the library?
- Will it be raining at midnight?
- Will we be watching the film at 7pm?
- Will they be playing football in the afternoon?
Wh- Questions
Begin with a question word, then use will + subject + be + verb-ing.
Examples:
- What will I be doing at 8pm?
- Where will you be travelling next week?
- When will he be working late?
- Who will she be meeting at the library?
- Why will it be raining at midnight?
- How will we be watching the film?
- What will they be playing in the afternoon?
Usage
Note: Stative verbs (such as know, like, believe, want) are not usually used in continuous forms. They describe states rather than actions.
Learn more about stative verbsPractice Exercises
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Downloadable PDF
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Related Lessons
How to Use Future Simple
Understand when we chose will instead of going to or present tenses.
Future Perfect Simple
Learn how to talk about actions that will be completed before a future time.
How to use the future continuous
See how to talk about future background actions using will be + -ing.
Future Perfect Continuous
Learn how to show the duration of actions up to a point in the future.