THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE
The future continuous tense, also known as the future progressive tense, is a verb tense that shows an ongoing action in the future. It is the future version of the present continuous tense, which uses a similar construction.
Future continuous: I will be watching my shows from lunch until dinner.
Present continuous: I am watching my shows.
It is helpful to use the future continuous tense when describing:
Although the future continuous tense is often confused with the simple future tense, there are some key differences between the two. The future continuous tense is usually used with a specified period of time, whereas the simple future tense can be used with or without an exact time.
The future continuous tense also shows more certainty than the simple future tense does. We use the future continuous tense for actions we know will happen, but we use the simple future tense for actions that are less likely.
Future continuous (certain): They will be promoting me to manager on Friday.
Simple future (uncertain): They will promote me to manager one day.
There’s also some confusion about the future continuous tense vs. the future perfect continuous tense. Keep in mind that the future continuous tense is for actions taking place over a specific period of time in the future, while the future perfect continuous tense is for actions that are ongoing into the future but lack a specified end date.
Future continuous: I will be working as a sales assistant from November to December.
Future perfect continuous: In December, I will have been working as a sales assistant for a year.
Like all other continuous tenses, you cannot use the future continuous tense with stative verbs like want, need, love, or hate. Use the simple future tense with stative verbs instead.
Future continuous tense (incorrect): I will be needing help with the repairs tomorrow.
Simple future tense (correct): I will need help with the repairs tomorrow.
The future continuous tense is formed with the words will and be plus the present participle of the actionable verb. Unlike most other verb tenses, you do not need to conjugate any verbs to match person, number, or gender.
[will] + [be] + [present participle of verb]
She will be speaking in the auditorium this evening.
Essentially, the future continuous tense takes the present continuous tense and adjusts it to speak to the future.
Remember that when using the modal verb will, the verb that follows uses its bare infinitive form (the infinitive without to). So when we add will to the present continuous, the verbs is, are, or am take their bare infinitive form, be. The present participle remains the same.
Future continuous: He will be studying for the test all night.
Present continuous: He is studying for the test right now.
When using the future continuous tense with negatives, insert the word not after will and before be.
[will] + [not] + [be] + [present participle of verb]
She will not be joining us this evening.
Contractions can be tricky with the future continuous tense because positive and negative sentences have different rules.
For positive sentences, if the subject is a pronoun, use a contraction with the subject and the word will.
She’ll be coming around the mountain.
I’ll be sleeping until noon.
For negative sentences, instead of using a contraction with the subject, use the contraction won’t to replace will and not.
I won’t be attending the party this weekend.
They won’t be checking their email while on holiday.
When using the future continuous tense in a question, the subject comes after will and before be.
[will] + [subject] + [be] + [present participle of verb]
Will she be acting in the sequel next year?
For negative questions, we typically use the contraction won’t to replace will.
Won’t she be acting in the sequel next year?
