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Master English Grammar

Future Continuous Tense

Learn how to use the Future Continuous tense to describe ongoing actions in the future. Understand sentences like I will be traveling at this time tomorrow.

What Is the Future Continuous Tense?

The Future Continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be happening at a specific moment in the future.

Why Is This Important?

Using the Future Continuous tense helps you talk about planned, ongoing actions or events in progress at a certain future time.

How to Form the Future Continuous Tense

The Future Continuous tense is formed with:
will + be + verb(-ing)
Example: I will be studying at 6 PM.

Common Examples

At this time tomorrow, I will be flying to New York.
She will be working when you arrive.

Key Points

  • Use Future Continuous for actions happening at a specific future time
    • This time next week, I will be relaxing on the beach.
    • At 8 PM, they will be having dinner.
  • Use Future Continuous for planned or expected events
    • She will be attending a conference next month.
    • We will be staying at a hotel during the trip.
  • Use Future Continuous to ask about someone's plans politely
    • Will you be joining us for dinner?
    • Will she be coming to the meeting?

Rules for Using the Future Continuous Tense

  • Use Future Continuous for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future

    • At 10 AM, I will be meeting my boss.
    • This time tomorrow, she will be flying to London.
    • By noon, they will be playing soccer.

  • Use Future Continuous for planned future activities

    • Next summer, we will be traveling around Europe.
    • She will be working at the new office next week.
    • They will be staying in a hotel for a few days.

  • Use Future Continuous to ask about future plans politely

    • Will you be attending the wedding?
    • Will she be joining us for lunch?
    • Will they be using the conference room?

  • Special Cases & Exceptions:

    The Future Continuous tense is not usually used with stative verbs.

  • Avoid using stative verbs like 'know' and 'believe' in Future Continuous.

    • Incorrect: I will be knowing the answer soon.
    • Correct: I will know the answer soon.

  • Future Continuous can indicate an assumption about the present.

    • He will be working now. (I assume he is working.)
    • She will be sleeping at this time.
ExampleTenseUse
I will be traveling at this time tomorrow.Future ContinuousOngoing action at a future moment
She will be working when we arrive.Future ContinuousAction in progress when another event happens
At 8 PM, they will be having dinner.Future ContinuousScheduled future action
Will you be joining us for lunch?Future ContinuousPolite question about future plans

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.