Present Continuous progressive Used as a Future Form Tense Examples

Before you study this lesson, you might want to study "How to talk about future plans" which includes Future Simple, Going to and Present Continuous.

We can use Present Continuous to talk about actions we are doing right now. For example:

I'm teaching you English.

You're watching a video.

Future Continuous is used to talk about things that will be happening at a certain point in the future. For example:

Tonight I will watch television from 7pm until 8:30pm. So I could say: I'll be watching television at 8pm.

Here are some more examples:

This time next week we will be flying to Europe.

I will be living in Portugal in 2021.

Don't ring me at 10pm because I'll be sleeping.

It's very important when we are using Future Continuous that we include time markers.

Of course, we don't always know the future. But we can assume or make a good guess about what will be happening. For example:

(My friend always drives home from work at 6pm.) Don't call her at 6 because she will be driving home from work.

Future Continuous: Negative Form

will not be verb+ing   = won't be verb+ing

For example:

This time next week we won't be flying to Europe.

I won't be living in Portugal in 2021.

Future Continuous: Questions

For Yes/ No questions:

Will  +  Subject  + be +verb-ing

Will you be sleeping at 10pm tonight?

Will she be traveling to Europe next year?

For "wh" questions:

WH will + Subject + verb +ing

What will you be doing this time next week?

Where will you be living in 2025?

Understanding when to use Future Continuous

1. We use Future Continuous to describe other actions in the future.

For example:

This time next year, I'll be traveling overseas.

I can't come tonight because I'll be studying for the exam.

I won't be doing any heavy lifting until my back has healed.

If  the action is already in progress, we use "still".

I can't join you tonight as I'll still be working on this assignment.

I'll still be surfing when I'm 100.

2. We use Future Continuous to make guesses about future actions.

For example:

Look at those clouds! It'll be raining by the time we get there.

I reckon she'll be getting engaged while they are on holiday.

I don't think she'll be coming on the weekend. She has a lot of work to do.

3. We use Future Continuous to make guesses about what is happening right now.

For example:

I can't speak to her now; she'll be working.

They'll be boarding their flight now.

4. We use Future Continuous to ask polite questions

For example:

Excuse me, will you be needing this chair?

Will you be ordering wine this evening?

How long will you be staying with us?

How will you be paying for this?

First let's compare: Future Continuous and Future Simple

Future simple is used when an action is expected to occur in the future and to be completed. For example, I have an exercise class from 5pm until 6pm.

So for future simple:

I will leave home at 4:30pm.

I will arrive at 5pm.

I will finish the class at 6pm.

I will get home at 6:30pm.

Can you see how these actions are short and they are complete at the time I give?

For Future Continuous, we are talking about something that will 'continue' for a period of time and that is happening at a specific time in the future. For example:

At 4:45pm, I will be driving.

At 5:30pm, I will be exercising.

For more help with future plans, check out this page.

Now let's compare: Future Continuous and Present Continuous for future purpose

Compare these two sentences:

I'm playing tennis tomorrow.

I'll be playing tennis tomorrow so I won't be home when you visit.

The two sentences are very similar. The first is present continuous which we can use to talk about a future arrangement.

The second sentence (I have added: so I won't be home when you visit); this implies that 'playing tennis' is happening over a period of time in the future and therefore intersects with something else, in this case your visit.

Future Continuous can be more polite than Present Continuous when you are asking a question.

For example:

What time will you go home?

What time will you be going home?   (More polite as it is less direct.)

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Source: https://www.numberoneinstitute.com/grammar/verbs-and-tense/future-continuous/

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