Future Continuous Tense

Future Continuous Tense expresses future actions having an ongoing nature that is expected to start in the future and continue for some time in the future. Future Continuous tense is being used for an action that will be unfinished at a certain time in the future, or for a time in the future.

For Example

•  Jack will be running a marathon this Monday.
• I will be watching Jack and Mary race.

What is the Future Continuous Tense?

This tense describes activity at a certain point in the future. The activity would have begun before this point, however, that would not have ended at this point.

In this case, it represents action in progress in the future. You will use the verb phrase “will be” + “ing” form of the verb.

Future Continuous tense denotes that something will happen and will last for a specified amount of time.

It is made up of the following elements:

Subject+ will + be + V1+ing object (the present participle)

For Example

•       He will be writing a letter.
•       Jack will be swimming today.

Future Continuous Tense: Use

The future continuous tense is commonly used in the following ways:

1.     The major purpose of using the future continuous tense is to emphasise that future decisions will take place over time rather than all at once. It is the main cause we would prefer it to the plain future tense. Examine the following 2 statements to look if we can see a little variation in their sense. For Example:

•       At midnight tonight, we will be still driving through the desert. 
•       I will be purchasing a dress for numerous hours.

2. Another reason for using the future continuous tense is to compare the present tense to the future tense. For Example:

•   I may be broke now, however, I will be having a good life when I win the jackpot.

3. Another reason for using Future Continuous Tense is to indicate that several future events would occur simultaneously. For example

•   I can not assist you with your assignment tomorrow because I will be studying with my friends.
•   I will be working hard next week while you will be relaxing on the beach.

Types of Future Continuous Tene Sentences

Interrogative Future Continuous Tense

The method for transforming these statements into interrogative sentences is to put Shall at the starting of the example or sentence, it is followed through Subject and then follows the rule’s remainder.

Shall + I/ We + be+ verb 1st form + ing + object +?

• Shall we be going to the market?
•  Shall I be cooking food?

The method for transforming these statements into interrogative sentences is to put Will at the starting of the example or sentence, it is followed through Subject and then follows the rule’s remainder.

Will + She/He/They/Proper Noun or Common Noun + be + verb1St form+ ing+ object+?

Example

• Will they be cooking food?
• Will Alex be flying kites?

Negative Future Continuous Tense

The procedure for making these phrases negative is to put ‘shall not’ before the base form of the verb, and the whole rule stays the same.

I/ We + shall not +be + verb 1st form+ing+ object

Example

•  I shall not be going to school every day.
•  I shall not be studying solid for my upcoming exam on Friday.

The procedure for making these phrases negative is to put ‘will not’ before the base form of the verb, and the whole rule stays the same.

She/He/They/Proper Noun or Common Noun + will not + be + verb 1St form + ing +object

Eg. She will not be doing her homework.

John will not be going to the park next week.

Negative Interrogative Future Continuous Tense

The formula for negative interrogative sentences is to put shall at the starting of the example or sentence, it is followed through Subject, then not, and then follow the rule’s remainder.

Shall + I/ We + Not be + verb 1st form + ing+object

• Shall we not be going to school every day?
• Shall I not be sleeping in the room?

The formula for negative interrogative sentences is to put will at the starting of the example or sentence, it is followed through Subject, then not, and then follow the rule’s remainder.

Will + She/He/They/Proper Noun or Common Noun + Not be + verb 1St form + ing+object

Example

•  Will Mark not be going to the shop?
• Will she not be coming today?

Conclusion

The future continuous tense reflects an action that takes place continuously but in the future. This lesson discusses definitions, formulae, and recommendations for structuring statements in the future continuous tense, as well as sample sentences. A learner should keep in mind the specifics of the tense so that no error is made while using this tense in spoken or written English.