Future Continuous: Formula, usage, signs

Future continuous tense often makes many people feel difficult and confused about the structure and usage. ETEST English for Study Abroad will help you learn more about the future continuous tense through the following article. In addition, you will have the opportunity to try your hand at practice exercises, providing detailed answers to help you master and be more confident when using this tense.

Build a solid grammar foundation and skyrocket your English skills with this wealth of knowledge about 12 tenses in English.

Concept of Future Continuous

Future continuous describes events, actions or situations that are happening at a certain time in the future.

For example:

• The team will be preparing for the match at this hour on Saturday.
• At this time next year, we will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary.
• At 10 AM tomorrow, he will be taking his driving test at the DMV.

Future continuous formula

Affirmative sentence

Formula: S + will + be + V-ing

In there:

• S (subject): Subject
• Will: auxiliary verb
• V-ing: Verb adds -ing

For example:

• The students will be presenting their research findings next week.
• I will be teaching English at the community center tonight.

Negative sentence

Formula: S + will not + be + V-ing

Note: will not = won't

For example:

• The cat won't be sleeping when we arrive home.
• They won't be studying together tomorrow afternoon.

Question

Yes/No question

Formula: Will + S + be + V-ing +…?

Answer: Yes, S + will. / No, S + won't.

For example:

Q: Will the temperature be dropping later in the evening?

A: Yes, it will.

Q: Will the professor be giving a lecture tomorrow morning?

A: Yes, he will.

Question sentences starting with Wh-question

Formula: Wh- question + will + S + be + V-ing +…?

For example:

• What will they be doing at this time tomorrow?
• Where will they be having dinner tonight?

How to use the future continuous tense

Signs to recognize the future continuous tense

The signs of future continuous become evident when phrases like the following appear:

• “At this/ that + time/ moment” is combined with a period of time in the future (eg: at this moment next month,…).
• “At” followed by a specific time in the future (e.g. at 10 pm tomorrow).
• When the sentence has a clause in the present simple tense (for example: when you arrived,…).
• Recognition words like “In the future, next year, next week, next time, soon”.
• Also, when sentences use verbs like “expect” or “guess”, they are usually in the future continuous tense. This is also a common sign in exams.

For example:

• Next summer, he will be exploring the jungles of Southeast Asia.
• When they arrive, we will be gathering for a family dinner to celebrate Grandma's birthday.
• At this time next year, we will be celebrating our parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

Some notes when using the future continuous tense

• For sentences starting with while, when, before, after, if, unless, by the time, as soon as,… remember not to use the future continuous but instead use the present continuous to accurately express future actions.

For example: While she will be running errands, he will be cleaning the house. (Wrong)

→ While she is running errands, he will be cleaning the house. (Correct)

• These words are not usually used in passive sentences and especially in the future tense:

• State: be, cost, mean, fit, suit
• Possession: belong, have
• Senses: feel, hear, see, taste, smell, touch
• Feelings: hate, hope, prefer, like, love, want, regret, wish
• Brain work: believe, think, know, understand

For example: He is belonging to the club. (Wrong)

→ He belongs to the club. (Correct)

• Pay attention to the use of both passive and active sentences in the future continuous tense.

For example:

Active sentence: They will be planting trees in the park tomorrow.

Passive voice: Trees will be planted in the park tomorrow.

See more knowledge about:

• Present continuous

• Present continuous exercises

Distinguish between simple future, near future and future continuous

Distinguish based on the use of 3 tenses

Distinguish based on the identifying signs of the 3 tenses

See more articles related to grammar knowledge you need to know:

• near future

• Simple future tense

Future continuous exercises with answers

Exercise:

A. Fill in the blanks

1. This time next week, I __________ (travel) to Paris.
2. At 8 PM tonight, they __________ (watch) a movie.
3. Tomorrow at this time, she __________ (study) for her exams.
4. By next summer, we __________ (live) in a new house.
5. When you arrive, I __________ (work) in the garden.
6. At this time next year, he __________ (attend) university.
7. Next Friday, they __________ (celebrate) their anniversary.
8. At noon tomorrow, you __________ (have) lunch with your friend.
9. By this time tomorrow, she __________ (fly) to New York.
10. In an hour, we __________ (meet) with the manager.
11. By 10 PM, they __________ (sleep) completely.
12. Next month, I __________ (write) my final thesis.
13. At this time next week, she __________ (drive) to the countryside.
14. Tomorrow afternoon, he __________ (play) tennis with his friends.
15. In two days, we __________ (attend) a conference in London.

B. Error correction:

1. They will be arriving at the airport at 6 PM.

->__________________________________________.

1. I will be working on my project when you will arrive.

->__________________________________________.

1. She will be studying for her exams last night.

->__________________________________________.

1. By next year, we will be travel to several countries.

->__________________________________________.

1. He will be meeting the clients while the team are working on the report.

->__________________________________________.

1. They will be arriving at the party at 7 PM.

->__________________________________________.

1. She will be watching TV when I will call her.

->__________________________________________.

1. We will be visit the museum during our vacation.

->__________________________________________.

1. I will be read a book while you are cooking dinner.

->__________________________________________.

1. By this time next week, they will be already have left for their trip.

->__________________________________________.

C.Complete the Dialogues

Fill in the blanks in the dialogues with the correct future continuous form of the verbs in parentheses.

1. A: What ______ (you/do) at 8 PM tonight? 

B: I ______ (watch) a movie.

1. A: Will you be available for a call tomorrow? 

B: No, I ______ (be/attend) a seminar all day.

1. A: What ______ (they/do) when we arrive at the party?

 B: They ______ (dance) and ______ (enjoy) themselves.

1. A: Will you be at home next weekend?

 B: No, I ______ (travel) to visit my family.

• A: What ______ (you/do) while I’m out of town?

 B: I ______ (look) after your pets and ______ (water) the plants.

D. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences:

1. By the time you arrive, I ______ (have) finished my work.

1. a) will have
2. b) will be having

1. Tomorrow, they ______ (be/working) on the new project all day.

1. a) will be working
2. b) will work

1. She ______ (call) you when she gets home.

1. a) will call
2. b) will be calling

1. At 7 PM tonight, we ______ (have) dinner with our friends.

1. a) will be having
2. b) will have

1. Next month, I ______ (start) my new job.

1. a) will start
2. b) will be starting

1. By the time the meeting starts, I ______ (finish) the report.

1. a) will finish
2. b) will have finished

1. This weekend, we ______ (be/celebrate) our anniversary.

1. a) will be celebrating
2. b) will celebrate

1. When the clock strikes midnight, I ______ (dance) at the party.

1. a) will dance
2. b) will be dancing

1. She ______ (call) you as soon as she arrives at the hotel.

1. a) will call
2. b) will be calling

1. At this time next week, they ______ (be/complete) their training program.
2. a) will be completing
3. b) will complete

Answer:

A.

1. This time next week, I will be traveling to Paris.
2. At 8 PM tonight, they will be watching a movie.
3. Tomorrow at this time, she will be studying for her exams.
4. By next summer, we will be living in a new house.
5. When you arrive, I will be working in the garden.
6. At this time next year, he will be attending university.
7. Next Friday, they will be celebrating their anniversary.
8. At noon tomorrow, you will be having lunch with your friend.
9. By this time tomorrow, she will be flying to New York.
10. In an hour, we will be meeting with the manager.
11. By 10 PM, they will be sleeping peacefully.
12. Next month, I will be writing my final thesis.
13. At this time next week, she will be driving to the countryside.
14. Tomorrow afternoon, he will be playing tennis with his friends.
15. In two days, we will be attending a conference in London.

B.

1. They will be arriving at the airport at 6 PM.
2. I will be working on my project when you arrive.
3. She will be studying for her exams tonight.
4. By next year, we will be traveling to several countries.
5. He will be meeting the clients while the team is working on the report.
6. They will be arriving at the party at 7 PM.
7. She will be watching TV when I call her.
8. We will be visiting the museum during our vacation.
9. I will be reading a book while you are cooking dinner.
10. By this time next week, they will have already left for their trip.

C.

1. A: What will you be doing (you/do) at 8 PM tonight?
   B: I will be watching (watch) a movie.
2. A: Will you be available for a call tomorrow?
   B: No, I will be attending (be/attend) a seminar all day.
3. A: What will they be doing (they/do) when we arrive at the party?
   B: They will be dancing (dance) and will be enjoying (enjoy) themselves.
4. A: Will you be at home next weekend?
   B: No, I will be traveling (travel) to visit my family.
5. A: What will you be doing (you/do) while I’m out of town?
   B: I will be looking (look) after your pets and will be watering (water) the plants.

D.

Luyện tập thêm: Future continuous exercises

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