Everything you need to use the future continuous correctly: the formula, when to use it, signal words, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Actions in progress at a moment in the future. Affirmative: S + will + be + V-ing; Negative: S + will + not + be + V-ing; Interrogative: Will + S + be + V-ing? Signal words: at this time tomorrow, at 8 PM tonight, this time next week, still, all day tomorrow, when.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | S + will + be + V-ing All subjects + will be | I will be working at 3 PM tomorrow. An action that will be in progress at a future moment |
| Negative | S + will + not + be + V-ing | She won't be attending the meeting. Contraction: will not be = won't be |
| Interrogative | Will + S + be + V-ing? | Will you be using the car tomorrow? Often used for polite questions |
Describes an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Describes an action that is expected or planned as a matter of routine.
Used to ask politely about someone's plans.
| Word | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| at this time tomorrow | At this time tomorrow, I will be relaxing. | |
| at 8 PM tonight | At 8 PM, she will be studying. | |
| this time next week | This time next week, we will be travelling. | |
| still | I will still be working at midnight. | Goes between "will" and "be" |
| all day tomorrow | She will be studying all day tomorrow. | |
| when | When you arrive, I will be cooking. | A "when" clause takes the present simple even for the future |
Fill in the blank, then open the answer to check it.
Options: am relaxing · relax · will be relaxing · will relax
will be relaxing. "This time tomorrow" is a specific future moment for an action in progress, so the future continuous.
Options: will be watch · will be watched · will be watching
will be watching. "At 9 PM tonight" is a specific moment, so 'will be' + verb-ing.
Options: build · built · will be building · will have built
will be building. "at this time tomorrow" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be building.
Options: are talking · is talking · was talking · will be talking
will be talking. "at eight o'clock tonight" refers to the exact moment in the future when this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be talking.
Options: save · saving · were saving · will be saving
will be saving. "this time next week" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be saving.
Options: had been raining · is raining · rained · will be raining
will be raining. "at this time next year" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be raining.
Options: has been drinking · has drunk · have been drinking · will be drinking
will be drinking. "at this time tomorrow" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be drinking.
Options: are singing · sings · were singing · will be singing
will be singing. "at eight o'clock tonight" refers to the exact moment in the future when this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be singing.
Options: had been holding · holding · holds · will be holding
will be holding. "this time next week" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be holding.
Options: are listening · will be listening · will have been listening · will listen
will be listening. "at this time next year" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be listening.
Options: carried · carrying · is carrying · will be carrying
will be carrying. "at this time tomorrow" refers to the exact moment in the future where this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be carrying.
Options: touch · touched · will be touching · will touch
will be touching. "at eight o'clock tonight" refers to the exact moment in the future when this will be happening, so this sentence uses the Future Continuous tense. The formula is will be + V-ing: will be touching.
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