Future continuous tense: form and uses

An action in progress at a future time: "At 9 a.m. on Monday, I'll be starting my new job." Typical phrases are this time tomorrow, at 6 p.m. tonight and this time next week.

A longer future action interrupted by a shorter one: "I'll be waiting at the gate when you arrive."

Events expected as part of the normal course of things: "I'll be passing the post office anyway, so I can post your letter."

Polite questions about plans: "Will you be joining us for lunch?" sounds softer than "Will you join us?", which can sound like a request.

Stative verbs such as know, want and believe use will instead: "You will know the result by Friday", not "You will be knowing".

The future continuous shows an action in progress at a future moment. The future perfect looks back from that moment at something complete, and the future perfect continuous adds how long it has lasted.

• Wrong: This time next week, I will lie on a beach.

  Right: This time next week, I will be lying on a beach.

  An action in progress at a future moment takes will be + -ing.

• Wrong: I will be knowing my results next week.

  Right: I will know my results next week.

  Know is a stative verb, so use will + base verb.

• Wrong: She will be come to the meeting.

  Right: She will be coming to the meeting.

  After will be, the main verb takes -ing.

In IELTS Speaking Part 1 and Part 3, the future continuous is a natural way to talk about your plans and routines in the future: "Next year I'll be studying in Melbourne." It is rarely needed in IELTS Writing Task 1 or PTE essays. Use it where it fits rather than to show off; an error in a complex form costs more than a correct simple one.

Try each one, then open it to check your answer.

1. 1. Complete this: "At midnight tonight, I ___ (fly) over the Arabian Sea."

   will be flying

   The action will be in progress at a future moment.

2. 2. Make this negative: "We will be staying at a hotel."

   We won't be staying at a hotel.

   Not goes after will.

3. 3. Make this question more polite: "Will you come to the party?"

   Will you be coming to the party?

   The future continuous asks about plans without sounding like a request.

4. 4. Choose: "By 9 p.m., I (will be finishing / will have finished) my essay."

   will have finished

   By 9 p.m. points to completion, so it takes the future perfect.

5. 5. Correct this: "Don't worry, you will be understanding it soon."

   Don't worry, you will understand it soon.

   Understand is a stative verb.

• Future perfect continuous tense
• Future simple tense
• Future perfect tense
• Past continuous tense
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