Future Continuous/Progressive
Subject Will Be Verb in –ING Complement
You will be working at 7 tomorrow
She will be buying a new car next week
Pop up come up
Subject Will + Not Be Verb in –ING Complement
You will not be /won’t be working at 7 tomorrow
She will not be/won’t be buying a new car next week
Will Subject + Be Verb in –ING Complement +?
Will You be working at 7 tomorrow?
Will She be buying a new car next week?
The future continuous tense is used to talk about future events that will be in progress at a specific time in
the future. We often use this structure to make a contrast between a present event and a future event.
Jimmy will be traveling tomorrow night. Jimmy is going to be traveling tomorrow
We will be working on Saturday
This is not just a simple statement about what you will be doing tomorrow. It also shows how exciting a
future moment will be compared to the present moment.
This time tomorrow I will be lying on the beach.
This time tomorrow I will be celebrating my birthday.
We can use the future continuous tense to talk about not-so-exciting moments too.
This time next week I will be taking my driving test.
This time tomorrow I will be waiting at the doctor’s office.
We can also use the future continuous tense to make predictions about the present.
My mother will be cooking dinner now. (Here we are talking about something that might be happening at
the moment although the structure used is the future continuous.)
She will be getting ready for school.
Don’t call them now. They will be having dinner.
Common time expressions used with the future continuous:
The future continuous tense is commonly used with the following time expressions: while, when, this time
tomorrow, this time next week, in the afternoon, next month, next week, next year etc.
Rewrite the underlined forms with the future simple or continuous.
Don't call me at 10 o'clock. I am going to fly to Spain.
Don’t call me at 10 o’clock. I will be flying to Spain
I suppose we're going to stay at a hotel next summer.
We will be staying at a hotel next summer
Come to see me in the afternoon. I work in the garden.
Come to see me in the afternoon. I will be working in the garden
Do you think it is snowing at the weekend?
Do you think it will be snowing at the weekend?
Is the coat OK? - Yes, I am taking it.
Is the coat OK? – yes, I am taking it/I will take it
This time on Sunday we are going to ski in France.
This time on Sunday we will be skiing in France
I don't know if I will stay here. Perhaps I move to a big city one day.
I don’t know if I will stay here. I will be moving to a big city one day
Every student is using a computer in the near future.
Every student will be using a computer in the near future
Task 1: Decide whether you have to employ the simple future or the future progressive tense with “will (be
doing) / won’t (be doing)” in the following sentences.
I will do (to do) my homework when my father comes home. Don’t worry, I will help (to help) you with your
homework.
I won’t be able (not to be) able to meet you because my brother and I will be playing (to play) soccer at
school tomorrow evening.
Next Friday I will be studying (to study) for my French exam and my sister will be practicing (to practice)
her choreography.
Who will be (to be) the next American president?
When I arrive at school, my classmates will be correcting (to correct) their homework and my teacher will
be preparing (to prepare) a new lesson.
I’m quite sure that Scotland will be (to be) an independent country by next year.
At midnight tonight, I won’t be reading (not to read) a book because I’m already very tired now.
Will you call (to call) me when you come home?
Task 2: Decide whether you use the simple future or the future progressive tense with “be going to (be
doing) / not to be going to (be doing)” in the following sentences.
Don’t be afraid, I ______ (not to let) anyone know what you just told me. This year, my parents ________
(to stay) home for Christmas. ________ (to help) me practicing the future progressive tense for our next
quiz? Tomorrow evening at 7 p.m., I _______ (to play) basketball with a couple of friends. Next weekend,
my family ________ (to celebrate) my grandfather’s ninetieth birthday in Montreal while my best friend
__________ (to go shopping) in Ottawa with her sister. He ______ (to watch) a hockey game when she
comes home. When I come home, my mother _________ (to clean) the house, my father ______ (to
walk) the dog and my little brother _______ (to do) his homework. _______ (to hang out) with this weird
guy at lunchtime? My parents ________ (not to stay up) until my big sister comes home from he best
friend’s birthday party.
Future simple or future continuous?
Put each verb in brackets into the future simple or the future continuous.
1. You can visit me tomorrow. I won’t be doing (not do) anything important.
2. You should recognize her easily. She will be wearing (wear) a red skirt.
3. We will leave (leave) this house as soon as possible.
4. At 11 p.m. I will be sleeping (sleep).
5. At 10 p.m. I will go (go) to bed to get some rest.
6. Can I borrow your car? Sure, I won’t use (not use) it until Friday.
7. I suppose the weather will be (be) good.
8. I will help (help) you as soon as I finish this project.
9. This time next month I will be enjoying (enjoy) the holidays.
10. She won’t be coming (not come) with us, I'm sure.
11. I won’t do (not do) that if he doesn't apologize to me.
12. I won’t be doing (not do) anything till Monday.
13. Hold on, I will give (give) you a lift.
14. He will be giving (give) me 20$ a day during my stay.
15. He won’t be able (not be able) to carry such a heavy bag.
16. I'm sure that next year this city will be looking (look) much better.
17. They will have (have to) change their diet if they want to keep fit.
18. I can't go with you, but I will make (make) it up to you. To make something up for someone
19. I wish I could visit you, but I will be managing (manage) a very important project.
20. I think he will find (find) this work more interesting when he grows up.
