FORM
The future continuous is made up of two elements:
the simple future of the verb ‘to be’ + the present participle (base+ing)
Subject | simple future of the verb ‘to be’ | present participle |
You | will be | cleaning. |
She | will be | reading. |
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | Negative Interrogative |
I will be staying. | I won’t be staying. | Will I be staying? | Won’t I be staying? |
She will be staying. | She won’t be staying. | Will she be staying? | Won’t she be staying? |
FUNCTIONS
The Future Continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.
*The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the future.
EXAMPLES
- This time next month I will be sun-bathing in Maldives.
- By Christmas I will be skating like a pro.
- Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.
*The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future events.
EXAMPLES
- She’ll be attending to the party, I expect.
- I guess you’ll be feeing tired after working out in the gym.
- You’ll be missing the sunshine once you’re back in England.
*In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used to ask politely for information about the future.
EXAMPLES
- Will you be bringing your cousin to the concert tonight?
- Will Matthew be coming with us?
- Will Anne be going to the party tonight?
- Will they be staying in this hotel?
*The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous events that we expect to happen in the future.
EXAMPLES
- I‘ll be seeing Tim at the meeting next week.
- When he is in Canada, he will be staying with his aunt.
- I’ll be eating with Kim this evening.
*When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already happening now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.
EXAMPLES
- In an hour I’ll still be washing my car.
- Tomorrow she’ll still be suffering from flu.
- Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
- Won’t stock prices still be falling in the morning?
- According to research, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.