The future continuous is a combination of the simple future tense (I will eat) and the present continuous tense (I am eating).
It is used to talk about what we will be doing at a certain time in the future. It is used for actions that will last for a certain amount of time in the future.
- I will be driving all day tomorrow.
We use the future continuous because the act of driving will not stop. It will continue for a certain amount of time in the future, in this case, “all day tomorrow”.
Many times, the future continuous has the same meaning as other future tense grammar.
- I will leave at 7 pm tomorrow.
- I will be leaving at 7 pm tomorrow.
- I am going to leave at 7 pm tomorrow.
- I am leaving at 7 pm tomorrow.
They all mean the same thing.
- She will travel around Europe next summer.
- She will be traveling around Europe next summer.
- She is going to travel around Europe next summer.
- She is traveling around Europe next summer.
Again, all four have the same meaning. There is always more than one way to say something in English!
It is important to remember that we only make these sentences and questions with action verbs.
I will be being tired.
Subject + will be + present participle…
- I will be playing soccer next Saturday afternoon, so I can’t attend the neighborhood meeting.
- She will be working on this project all next month.
- They will be discussing the issue next week.
- The President will be giving a speech next Wednesday.
- The company managers will be evaluating the staff for the next couple of months.
It is possible to use contractions just like the simple future tense. Combine a pronoun and will.
- She’ll be working all day tomorrow.
- They’ll be driving for 5 hours.
- It’ll be starting soon.
We use “will not be” to make a negative sentence. In these sentences, we are talking about an action or event that will not be happening at a certain time.
Subject + will not be + present participle…
- She will not be working on Saturday.
- They will not be traveling this summer.
- It will not be starting until 7.
We can also use the contraction “won’t”.
- He won’t be arriving until 9.
- She won’t be working this month.
- They won’t be helping us on this project.
This grammar point is often overlooked. It is not covered in English books a lot and many English learners do not spend enough time studying it.
I say this because this grammar point is used a lot by native speakers. So, if you want to be able to communicate fluently, then you need to know it well.
Get some extra practice here, so you know this grammar point perfectly.
Example Sentences
- I will be visiting my parents next weekend.
- I will be talking to the clients about the new project for the next couple of days.
- I will be talking to my mother from 7 to 8, so don’t call me then.
- You will be working hard next week, right?
- You will be working after dinner, right?
- You will be having a meeting from 3 to 5 tomorrow, right?
- We will be working together on this project.
- We will be going to the zoo tomorrow.
- We will be visiting family from Monday to Thursday.
- Nick will be giving a speech to high school students next Friday.
- He will be leaving the company at the end month.
- He will be taking a break from work starting next week.
- Mary will be spending time with her daughter until noon, so let’s visit her at 1 pm.
- She will be baking a cake for the party.
- She will be attending our weekly meeting starting next month.
- The show will be starting at 9 o’clock.
- It will be happening soon.
- It will be changing soon.
- The children will be playing all afternoon today because they don’t have any homework.
- They will be working on the problem until they find a solution.
- They will be developing a new apartment building soon.
English Conversation 1
A) What are you doing this weekend?
B) I will be visiting my parents.
A) That’s too bad. My wife and I will be having a party at our house this weekend.
B) That is too bad. I would love to come, but I already told my parents that I am coming.
A) No worries. Next time.
B) I will definitely be coming to the next party.
English Conversation 2
A) Why don’t you come over and have dinner tomorrow?
B) What time?
A) How about 5?
B) That is no good for me. I will be working.
A) When will you finish work?
B) I will be getting off of work at 7, so I can be there by 7:30.
A) Okay, we will eat when you arrive.
Improve your English grammar and learn to speak fluently with this simple practice. Finish the sentences below and then practice making your own sentences. It is an effective way to learn English.
Tip: Say the sentences aloud. This will help you practice speaking English and improve your pronunciation and fluency.
I will be _______________ in the afternoon tomorrow.
I’ll be _______________ later.
If the weather is bad, I will be _______________ all day tomorrow.
She’ll be _______________ from 5 to 7 on Friday.
They will be _______________ on Saturday morning.
Mark will be _______________.
The workers will be _______________ because _______________.
The children will be _______________ because _______________.
