Future Continuous
form, uses, timeline
The Future Continuous is used to express that an action will be on-going at a particular time in the future. We’ll explore the Future Continuous form, uses, timeline, with examples below.
It is also known as the Future Progressive tense.
TO FORM THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS
The Future Continuous is formed using:
– modal auxiliary ‘will’
– auxiliary verb ‘be’ (verb base)
– main verb in the Present Participle (verb +ing)
affirmative: subject + will + be + main verb
negative: subject + will + not + be + main verb
question: will + subject + be + main verb
negative question: will + subject + not + be + main verb
Forms in the Future Continuous of the verb to wash
affirmative
I will be washing
you will be washing
he/she/it will be washing
we will be washing
you will be washing
they will be washing
negative
I will not be washing
you will not be washing
he/she/it will not be washing
we will not be washing
you will not be washing
they will not be washing
questions
will I be washing?
will you be washing?
will he/she/it be washing?
will we be washing?
will you be washing?
will they be washing?
negative questions
will I not be washing?
will you not be washing?
will he/she/it not be washing?
will we not be washing?
will you not be washing?
will they not be washing?
FUTURE CONTINUOUS USES
to express an action going on in the future at a time when it won’t have finished
I will be eating dinner at 6 p.m.
with ‘until’ to express an action that will continue over a period of time from now
They will be studying until 5 p.m.
with ‘when’ to express an action going on in the future when another action occurs
She will be waiting for him at the train station when he arrives.
to talk about planned events in the future
We will be meeting with the suppliers tomorrow.
to express predictions on future trends
We’ll all be having holidays on Mars in 50 years.
CONTRACTED AUXILIARY VERBS
Auxiliary verbs are often contracted, especially in spoken and informal written language
| I will | I’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
| he/she/it will | he’ll |
| we will | we’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
| they will | they’ll |
| I will | I’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
| he/she/it will | he’ll |
| we will | we’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
| they will | they’ll |
| I will | I’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
| he/she/it will | he’ll |
| we will | we’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
| they will | they’ll |
More on contracted auxiliary verbs
Future Continuous form, uses, timeline