Future Continuous

Form

The future continuous is will + be + the -ing form of the verb, and it is the same for every subject (I will be working, she will be working).

The negative is won't be + -ing (We won't be staying long), and a question puts will before the subject (Will you be working tomorrow?). In speech, will is usually contracted (She'll be waiting, They'll be leaving soon).

When to Use It

1. 1

   Use the future continuous for an action in progress at a set time in the future

   At eight tonight, I'll be flying to Chicago.

2. 2

   Use it for a longer action that another event will interrupt

   When you get here, I'll be cooking dinner.

3. 3

   Use it to ask politely about someone's plans

   Will you be using the car this weekend?

4. 4

   Use it for something that will happen anyway, as part of the normal course of events

   I'll be seeing Maria at the party, so I can give her the book.

5. 5

   Use it for two actions in progress at the same time in the future

   While you're studying, I'll be making snacks.

6. 6

   Use it to guess what someone is probably doing right now

   Don't call Dad now. He'll be watching the game.

Common Mistakes

• Leaving out be: write I will be waiting, not I will waiting — will is followed by be, and be is followed by the -ing form.
• The wrong verb form after will be: write She will be driving, not She will be drive or She will being drive — after will be, the main verb always takes -ing.
• Stative verbs in the continuous: write I will know the results tomorrow, not I will be knowing the results tomorrow — verbs like know, want and believe describe states, so they stay in the simple form.
• Will inside a time clause: write I'll be sleeping when you get home, not I'll be sleeping when you will get home — after when, while or before, use the present simple.