Future Continuous

Future continuous tense or future progressive tense is a verb tense that indicates an action that will occur in the future, and will continue for a timeframe in future itself. We usually use this type of tense when we talk about some events that will take place in the future at a specific time for a time duration. The sentences for this tense are formed with the help of using words like Will + Be + present participle.

This tense is different from the simple future tense. In simple future tense, it is used in sentences when a particular action is supposed to happen in the future, and is completed in the future itself. On the other hand, the future continuous tense is used to state an action that will happen in the future but will continue for a particular period of time.

Future continuous tense formula

The future continuous tense formula is as follows:

Subject + shall be/ will be + Verb (ing) + object

The present participle is represented by “Verb (ing)” in the formula mentioned above. In sentences, “shall be/will be” are the words that are used along with the verb to indicate that the action is going to continue in the future tense. If we compare the usage of “shall”, then it is used when the subject is “I” and “we” in sentences for future tense.

For example:

• I, We “shall be” “learning” French

• He, She, They, It, You, I, We “will be” “learning” French

Future continuous tense structure

The future continuous tense structure depends upon the type of statement being made. There can be three possibilities when writing a statement or a sentence in this tense. These three possibilities are affirmative or positive statements, negative statements, and question statements. The future continuous tense structure for all these three types of statements is different from each other. In the structure, “shall be” is only used when the subject is “I” or “we”. In other subjects like “He”, “She”, “It”, “They”, “I”, “We”, “will be” can be used.

Positive Statements

The general formula for writing this tense is followed in a positive statement. The structure of it is as follows:

Subject + shall be/ will be + Verb (ing) + object

For example:

• It will be snowing all day tomorrow

• I shall be studying tomorrow

• He will be learning German

Negative Statements

In negative statements, “not” is added following the auxiliary verb. The structure of such a sentence is:

Subject + shall / will + not + be + verb (ing) + object

For example:

• It will not be snowing all day tomorrow

• I shall not be studying tomorrow

• He will not be learning German

Question Statements

At the beginning of the sentence, the auxiliary verb is placed in question statements, and the statement ends with a question mark. The structure is as follows:

Shall / Will + subject + be + verb (ing) + object + ?

For example:

• Will it be snowing all day tomorrow?

• Will he be learning French?

• Shall I be studying tomorrow?

Future continuous sentence contraction

It is quite common that when we speak in this tense, the subject and “Will” are usually contracted. For example:

• “I will” is contracted to “I’ll”

• “you will” is contracted to “you’ll”

• “He will” is contracted to “he’ll”

• “She will” is contracted to “she’ll”

• “It will” is contracted to “It’ll”

• “We will” is contracted to “we’ll”

• “They will” is contracted to “they’ll”

This kind of contraction is usually done in positive statements, but in negative statements, it is contracted to won’t. For example:

• “I will not” is contracted to “I won’t”

• “You will not” is contracted to “you won’t”

• “He will not” is contracted to “he won’t”

• “She will not” is contracted to “she won’t”

• “It will not” is contracted to “It won’t”

• “We will not” is contacted to “we won’t”

• “They will not” is contacted to “they won’t”

Example of future continuous tense sentences

The future continuous tense sentences depend upon the type of statement being made. Some examples of future continuous tense sentences which will make some things clear to you are as follows:

• She will be enjoying the vacation in July

• The students will be learning new things in the classroom

• I will be having tea in the evening today

• I shall be studying a chapter today

• I will be taking the test tomorrow

• She will be coming to the city tomorrow

• Will she not be coming tomorrow?

• Will he be coming tomorrow?

• Will it be storming tomorrow?

Conclusion

Future continuous tenses are usually used when we are having a conversation regarding a continuous action that will happen at a particular time in the future. This type of tense is an important part of English grammar as it is widely used while speaking and writing. A particular formula and structure need to be followed when a person is communicating o statement or a question in future continuous tense.