The future continuous
The future continuous tense isn't taught very much in English classes but, in fact, English speakers use it a lot. You will sound much more natural if you master this tense.
Here's how to make it:
The positive (will + be + verb-ing):
At 10 am tomorrow,
I will be sleeping
you will be working
she will be studying
it will be raining
he will be cooking
we will be eating breakfast
they will be travelling
In the same way as with the future simple, usually we use the short form ('ll be verb-ing) when we are speaking.
I'll be sleeping.
You'll be working.
She'll be studying.
It'll be raining.
He'll be cooking.
We'll be eating breakfast.
They'll be travelling.
Here's the negative:
When John gets home,
will not be working (I won't be ..)
you will not be reading (you won't be ..)
he will not be cooking (he won't be ..)
she will not be studying (she won't be ..)
it will not be snowing (it won't be ..)
we will not be watching TV (we won't be ..)
they will not be sleeping (they won't be ..)
As with the positive, we usually use the short form (won't + be + verb-ing) when speaking.
Next, the question.
'Yes / no' questions:
When she arrives at the party,
will I be cooking?
will you be dancing?
will she be singing?
will he be eating?
will we be drinking?
will it be snowing?
will they be talking?
'Wh' questions:
Next weekend,
what will I be doing?
where will you be working?
how will she be travelling?
what will he be eating?
why will we be studying?
why will it be snowing?
what will they be wearing?
1: We use the future continuous to talk about an action in the future that overlaps another, shorter action or a time. The action in the future continuous usually starts before and might continue after the second action or time. This is very similar to how we use the past continuous in the past. The verb after 'when' is usually in the present simple.
I'll be waiting when you arrive.
At eight o'clock, I'll be eating dinner.
2: We can use the future continuous to talk about something that will happen if everything happens as we expect. This is sometimes called future as a matter of course. It's usually possible to choose the future simple as well, but we often choose the future continuous because then it's clear that we are not making a request or offer.
- The Government will be making a statement later.
- When will you be leaving? (This is more polite than 'when will you leave?' because it's definitely not a request for you to leave.)
Remember, we can't use the future continuous with stative verbs, so if we want to use a stative verb in one of the situations where we need to the future continuous, then we use the future simple with 'will'.