Future continuous – Use
Actions in progress in the future
We use the future continuous for situations or actions that will be in progress
at a certain time in the future.
● This time next week, we‘ll be travelling to Paris.
● Tomorrow at 10, you‘ll be doing your exam.
● When you get off the train, I‘ll be waiting on the platform.
● In two months’ time, we‘ll be lying on the beach and drinking a mojito.
Future arrangements (=present continuous)
We use the future continuous instead of the present continuous for future
events that have already been planned or decided.
● We’ll be coming next weekend.
● We’ll be leaving at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Future continuous: signal words
As you can see in the examples above, we often use the future continuous
with time expressions such as:
● This time … (this time tomorrow, this time next week, etc.)
● When …
● At + time … (at 7 tomorrow, at midday next Monday, etc.)
● In … (in 2 weeks, in 3 months, in 5 years, etc)
● In …’ time (in 2 weeks’ time, in 3 months’ time, in 5 years time, etc)
Future perfect – Use
Actions finished in the future
We use the future perfect for actions that will be finished before certain time in
the future.
● By 2050, researchers will have found a cure for cancer.
● By this time next year, I’ll have graduated.
● When you arrive tomorrow, we’ll have left.
Duration until some time in the future
We use the future perfect to talk about the duration of a situation until a certain
time in the future.
● By the time I leave, I will have been in England for 6 months.
● In 2 years, we will have been married for 20 years.
Future perfect: signal words
As you can see in the examples above, we often use the future perfect with
time expressions such as:
● By … (by tomorrow, by next week, by the end of the year, etc.)
● By this time … (by this time tomorrow, by this time next week, etc.)
● In … (in 2 weeks, in 5 years, etc.)
● When/Before …
By + time expression means ‘not later than’, ‘at’ or ‘before’ certain time.
Exercise 1
Choose the correct forms of the future continuous and future perfect for the
sentences below.
Page 1 of 2
When we arrive in Los Angeles we'll need to rest, because we _______ about
800 miles.
a.will be driving
b.will have driven
c.will drive
By the time you arrive I _______ something spectacular and dinner will be on
the table waiting for you.
a.will cook
b.will have cooked
c.will be cooking
When you get off the train, we _______ for you on the platform.
a.'ll wait
b.'ll be waiting
c.'ll have waited
We _______ on the first train next Monday.
a.'ll be leaving
b.'ll have left
c.'ll leave
When I travel to England next year I ________ English for over four years, so
I think I'll be ready.
a.will study
b.will be studying
c.will have studied
Page 2 of 2
Please, come at 8. By that time, I ______ my homework and we can go out.
a.'ll finish
b.'ll be finishing
c.'ll have finished
7
I'm sure when you call him, he _______ TV. He's always in front of the TV!
a.'ll watch
b.'ll be watching
c.'ll have watched
We are visiting a new city every week. By the end of the summer, we _______
all the most important cities in Europe.
a.will visit
b.will be visiting
c.will have visited
In less than 2 years, my grandparents _______ for 50 years. We are going to
celebrate it.
a.will have been married
b.will be married
c.will be getting married
10
I'm cleaning the kitchen. By the time you arrive, it _______ spotless.
a.will be
b.will being
c.will have been
Exercise 2
Choose the correct forms of the future continuous and future perfect to complete
the sentences.
1
Don't phone between 7 and 8. We (have) dinner
then.
Phone me after 8 o'clock. We (finish) dinner by then.
Tomorrow afternoon we're going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4.30. So at
4 o'clock, we (play) tennis.
A: Can we meet tomorrow? B: Yes, but not in the afternoon. I
(work) .
A: What time does the meeting finish? Will you be free at 11.30? B: Yes, the
meeting (finish) by then.
If you need to contact me, I (stay) at the Lion Hotel until
Friday.
Ben is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues
like this, he (spend) all his money before the end of
his holiday.
Do you think you (still/do) the same job in ten years'
time?
9
Lisa is from New Zealand. She is travelling around Europe at the moment. So
far she has travelled about 1,000 miles. By the end of the trip, she
(travel) more than 3,000 miles.
10
A: (see) Laura tomorrow? B: Yes,
probably. Why?
Exercise 3
Complete the text with the future continuous or the future perfect of the verbs in
brackets. Do NOT use contracted forms
Technology is advancing so fast that by the year 2050 who knows what new
technologies we 1 (invent). It is quite likely that by 2050 we 2 (use up) most
of the earth's natural resources and so we 3 (rely) on wind and solar power.
As there will be a shortage of energy, it is quite likely that at that time scientists
4 (try) to find a way for us to live outside the earth. Before the end of the next
century, it's possible that people 5 (live) in cities on the Moon or perhaps in
cities on the seabed.
By 2050 it's possible that scientists 6 (already/discover) how to cure diseases
such as cancer and, due to the advancement of genetic engineering, maybe
hereditary diseases passed down from generation to generation 7 (disappear)
forever. It is quite possible that by 2050 life expectancy 8 (increase) to 100
and that we 9 (enjoy) a healthier existence.
Another area likely to have been affected by technology in the year 2050 is
education. Many students 10 (study) online from their homes.
