Future Continuous Tense| When And How To Use?

The future continuous tense is an important tense that we often use to talk about events and actions that will be happening at a time in the future.

Generally, it is used to express or denote actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. That is why the future continuous tense is also called the future progressive tense.

To use this tense more confidently and efficiently in your day-to-day conversations, you must know everything about it.

In this article, we are going to explore every aspect of the future continuous tense and learn when and how to use this tense without making any mistakes.

Content Guide What is the Future Continuous Tense? 

The future continuous tense (one of the 12 tenses in English grammar) is the verb tense we use to talk about something that will happen in the future and continue for some time.

That means this tense indicates that some work will start in the future and will continue for some time.

You may have learned the present continuous tense already. Both present and future continuous tenses talk about ongoing actions. In a way, the future continuous tense is the future form of the present continuous tense, and the construction of a sentence is quite similar.

We form a future continuous sentence (future progressive tense) using the construction will + be + verb + ing.

For example, Emma will be working tomorrow evening.

This future continuous sentence indicates that Emma will start her work at some point in the evening. And she will continue to do her work all evening.

The action will start in the future and continue for an expected length of time. As it is a future progressive action, we have expressed it using the future progressive tense.

10 Examples Of Future Continuous Tense Sentences

• My cousin will be staying with me till Monday.
• William will be working this weekend.
• She will be using this computer for the next couple of hours.
• Mr. Brown will be taking our history class tomorrow.
• Probably your parents will be sleeping when you get home.
• They will be making pizza tonight.
• He will be waiting for us at the airport.
• We will be living together in the hostel.
• You will be attending the conference tomorrow at this time.
• Emma and I will be running the marathon this Sunday.
• I will be studying for my exams tomorrow evening.
• They will be traveling to Europe next month.
• She will be playing tennis at 5 PM.
• We will be working on the project all night.
• He will be cooking dinner while I clean up.
• The students will be writing their essays during class tomorrow.
• By this time next year, I will be living in a new city.
• They will be celebrating their anniversary at the beach.
• Tomorrow morning, I will be jogging in the park.
• The company will be launching its new product next week.
• At 8 AM, I will be attending the meeting.
• By the time you arrive, I will be finishing my work.
• She will be visiting her grandparents over the weekend.
• The kids will be playing outside until it gets dark.
• I will be preparing dinner while you set the table.
• He will be teaching English at the university this fall.
• They will be renovating their house for the next few months.
• By midnight, we will be driving through the desert.
• The chef will be cooking up some delicious dishes for the event.
• Next Friday, I will be attending a concert downtown.
• She will be running the marathon for charity.
• We will be cheering for our team at the championship game.
• At noon tomorrow, I will be meeting with my advisor.
• By the end of the day, they will be completing the project.
• The orchestra will be rehearsing for the concert all afternoon.
• He will be taking his driving test next Monday.
• They will be discussing the new contract during the meeting.
• Tomorrow evening, she will be babysitting her niece.
• We will be hiking in the mountains next weekend.
• By next summer, I will be graduating from college.
• The volunteers will be cleaning up the park on Saturday morning.
• He will be fixing the car in the garage this evening.
• They will be painting the house next month.
• I will be reading a book while you watch TV.
• The team will be practicing for the tournament every day.
• By the time you return, I will be sleeping.
• She will be learning French at the language school.
• They will be visiting their relatives in the countryside.
• Next winter, we will be skiing in the Alps.
• He will be running his first marathon in October.
• By next spring, she will be planting a garden in her backyard.
• The scientists will be conducting experiments in the lab all week.
• We will be watching the sunset on the beach tomorrow.
• At this time next year, they will be celebrating their tenth anniversary.
• She will be playing the piano during the concert.
• They will be shopping for groceries later today.
• I will be writing my thesis throughout the semester.
• By the end of the month, he will be finishing his novel.
• We will be organizing a fundraising event for charity.
• Tomorrow afternoon, I will be attending a workshop on leadership.

Future Continuous Tense Rule 

In the above example sentences, we have used the helping verb (Auxiliary) “will be” and the main in –ing form. You can use this combination (will be and verb ing form) with any “subject” in the future continuous tense.

Future Continuous Tense Rule Simple Future Vs Future Continuous 

To understand this tense better, we must understand the difference between Simple Future Tense and Future Continuous Tense.

Suppose a doctor has to perform surgery at the hospital tomorrow at 4 pm. So, two things will happen tomorrow.

Number one, the doctor will arrive at the hospital. And number two, the doctor will do the surgery.

The doctor arrives once; beyond that, he cannot keep arriving. So, it is not a continuous action. However, the surgery is a long process that will take some time. That means it will continue in the future for an expected length of time.

Therefore, we can express the first action using the simple future tense and say, “The doctor will arrive at 4 pm tomorrow.” And, for the second one, we can say, “The doctor will be performing the surgery at 4 pm tomorrow.”

Simple future tense shows that an action or event will happen in the future. In contrast, future continuous tense shows an action will continue for some time in the future.

Let’s see some more examples to understand this difference.

• I will go to the shopping mall in the evening. (An action will happen)
• I will be shopping in the evening. (An action will continue for some time)
• Olivia will invite us for dinner. (An action will happen)
• Olivia will be cooking dinner tonight. (An action will continue for some time)
• They will assign this project to James. (An action will happen)
• James will be working on this project from Monday. (An action will continue for some time)

Affirmative Sentence Structure 

Subject + Will be + Verb + ing + Object

Examples :

Future Continuous Tense Affirmative Sentences

• I will be giving a speech at the auditorium.
• He will be watching Olivia’s live performance.
• She will be bringing her friend to the party.
• You will be coming for the extra classes from Monday.
• We will be working on this new project together.
• My mother will be making pancakes.
• It will be working by the end of the day.
• They will be flying to Canada tonight.
• Emma will be staying with us.

Negative Sentence Structure 

Subject + Will + Not + be + Verb + ing + Object

Examples 

Future Continuous Negative Sentences

• I will not be giving a speech at the auditorium.
• He will not be watching Olivia’s live performance.
• She will not be bringing her friend to the party.
• You will not be coming for the extra classes from Monday.
• We will not be working on this new project together.
• My mother will not be making pancakes.
• It will not be working by the end of the day.
• They will not be flying to Canada tonight.
• Emma will not be staying with us.

Question (Interrogative ) Sentence Structure 

Will + Subject + be + Verb + ing + Object?

Examples 

Future Continuous Tense Question Sentences

• Will I be giving a speech at the auditorium?
• Will he be watching Olivia’s live performance?
• Will she be bringing her friend to the party?
• Will you be coming for the extra classes from Monday?
• Will we be working on this new project together?
• Will my mother be making pancakes?
• Will it be working by the end of the day?
• Will they be flying to Canada tonight?
• Will Emma be staying with us?

Interrogative Negative Sentence Structure 

Will + Subject + not + be + Verb + ing + Object?

Examples 

Future Continuous Tense Interrogative Negative Sentences

• Won’t I be giving a speech at the auditorium?
• Won’t he be watching Olivia’s live performance?
• Won’t she be bringing her friend to the party?
• Won’t you be coming for the extra classes from Monday?
• Won’t we be working on this new project together?
• Won’t my mother be making pancakes?
• Won’t it be working by the end of the day?
• Won’t they be flying to Canada tonight?
• Won’t Emma be staying with us?

Uses of Future Continuous Tense

• An action or event is going to start and continue in the future.
• You and I will be working on the new project from next week.
• Hopefully, I will be getting some good offers from next month.
• My cousin Monica will be staying with us from Monday.
• A future action or event that will continue for a period of time.
• We will be traveling to the north of the country from October to December this year.
• My husband will be attending a conference from 5 pm to 8 pm today.
• Our school will be celebrating its 25th anniversary for a week from Monday.
• An action or event that continues during a moment (specific time/moment) in the future.
• This Friday at 4 pm, I will be watching the football semi-finals.
• My father will be driving me to the airport tomorrow at 6 am.
• She will be taking her driving test at 2.30 on Sunday.
• Will you be staying with us this weekend?
• Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?

Contraction With Future Continuous Tense 

We can use the contracted form, especially in informal situations, while using the future continuous tense. Let’s see how we do the contraction.

With Affirmative Sentences 

You need to combine the subject and the auxiliary verb “will” to make the contraction.

• I’ll be giving a speech at the auditorium. (I will – I’ll)
• You’ll be coming for the extra classes from Monday. (You will – you’ll)
• He’ll be watching Olivia’s live performance. (He will – he’ll)
• She’ll be bringing her friend to the party. (She will – she’ll)
• We’ll be working on this new project together. (We will – we’ll)
• They’ll be flying to Canada tonight. (They will – they’ll)
• It’ll be working by the end of the day. (It will – it’ll)

With Negative Sentences 

In negative future continuous sentences, we can make the contraction in two ways.

• I’ll not be giving a speech at the auditorium (combine the “subject” and the auxiliary verb “will”)
• I won’t be giving a speech at the auditorium. (combine the auxiliary verb “will” and not)

You can say, “I’ll not be giving a speech at the auditorium” Or, “I won’t be giving a speech at the auditorium.” Both sentences are correct.

• He won’t be watching Olivia’s live performance.
• She won’t be bringing her friend to the party.
• You won’t be coming for the extra classes from Monday.
• We won’t be working on this new project together.
• It won’t be working by the end of the day.
• They won’t be flying to Canada tonight.

With Interrogative Negative Sentences 

You can use the below structure for interrogative negative future continuous sentences.

Won’t + Subject + be + Verb + ing + Object?

• Won’t I be giving a speech at the auditorium?
• Won’t he be watching Olivia’s live performance?
• Won’t she be bringing her friend to the party?
• Won’t you be coming for the extra classes from Monday?
• Won’t we be working on this new project together?
• Won’t my mother be making pancakes?
• Won’t it be working by the end of the day?
• Won’t they be flying to Canada tonight?
• Won’t Emma be staying with us?

Final tips

In conclusion, mastering the future continuous tense empowers us to articulate ongoing actions with clarity and precision, forecasting events that will be unfolding in the future. By understanding its structure and nuances, we enhance our ability to communicate effectively, ensuring our messages convey both the temporal progression and continuity of actions. Whether discussing plans, predictions, or expectations, the future continuous tense enables us to express duration and persistence in a straightforward manner. Embracing this grammatical tool not only enriches our language proficiency but also enriches our ability to convey the dynamic nature of future events, fostering clearer and more engaging communication in everyday dialogue.