Future Continuous

Future Continuous has two different forms: "will be doing " and "be going to be doing." Unlike Simple
Future forms, Future Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Continuous with "Will"

[will be + present participle]
Examples:

You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?

You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

FORM Future Continuous with "Be Going To "

[am/is/are + going to be + present participle]
Examples:

You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Are you going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?

You are not going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

REMEMBER: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Continuous with little difference
in meaning.
Complete List of Future Continuous Forms

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future

Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in
the future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:

I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.

I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.

I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.

He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.

Notice in the examples above that the interruptions (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple
Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by a short action in the future. In addition to
using short actions as interruptions, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.

I WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.

At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.

WE WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING THROUGH THE DESERT.

REMEMBER
In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In the Future
Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.
Examples:

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to eat dinner.

I AM GOING TO START EATING AT 6 PM.

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.

I AM GOING TO START EARLIER AND I WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER AT 6 PM.

USE 3 Parallel Actions in the Future

When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both
actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:

I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.

Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.

NOTICE "IS READING" BECAUSE OF THE TIME CLAUSE CONTAINING "WHILE." (SEE EXPLANATION BELOW)

USE 4 Atmosphere in the Future

In English, we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere at a specific point in the future.
Example:

When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are
going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be
drinking beer. They always do the same thing.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future tenses, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as:
when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Continuous, Present
Continuous is used.
Examples:

While I am going to be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct

While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbscannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future
Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.
Examples:

Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct

Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:

You will still be waiting for her when her plane arrives.

Will you still be waiting for her when her plane arrives?

You are still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives.

Are you still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. ACTIVE

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John. PASSIVE

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes. ACTIVE

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John. PASSIVE

Simple Present / Simple Future

Present Continuous / Future Continuous

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click
the "Check" button to check your answers.
1. Right now, I am watching TV. Tomorrow at this time, I (watch)
TV as well.

2. Tomorrow after school, I (go)

to the beach.

3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do)

(talk)

paperwork and

to annoying customers on the phone, I (lie)

on a

sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?

4. We (hide)

when Tony (arrive)

soon as he opens the door, we (jump)

at his surprise party. As

out and (scream)

"Surprise!"

5. We work out at the fitness center every day after work. If you (come)

over

while we (work)

out, we will not be able to let you into the house. Just to be

safe, we (leave)

a key under the welcome mat so you will not have to wait

outside.

6. While you (study)

7. When I (get)

(make)

at home, Magda (be)

to the party, Sally and Doug (dance)

drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss)

controversial, and Mary (complain)

in class.

, John

something

about something unimportant. They

are always doing the same things. They are so predictable.

8. When you (get)

off the plane, I (wait)

for you.

9. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake)

morning, the sun (shine)

up tomorrow

10. If you (need)

to contact me sometime next week, I (stay)

at the Sheraton in San Francisco.

Simple Future / Future Continuous

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click
the "Check" button to check your answers.
1.
Sandra: Where is Tim going to meet us?

Marcus: He (wait)

(stand)

for us when our train arrives. I am sure he

on the platform when we pull into the station.

Sandra: And then what?

Marcus: We (pick)

Michele up at work and go out to dinner.

2.

Ted: When we get to the party, Jerry (watch)

TV, Sam

(make)

by herself, and Thad

(complain)

drinks, Beth (dance)

about his day at work.

Robin: Maybe, this time they won't be doing the same things.

Ted: I am absolutely positive they (do)

same things.

3.

the same things; they always do the

Florence: Oh, look at that mountain of dirty dishes! Who (wash)

all of

those?

Jack: I promise I (do)

them when I get home from work.

Florence: Thanks.
Jack: When you get home this evening, that mountain will be gone and nice stacks of sparkling

clean dishes (sit)

in the cabinets.

4.

Doug: If you need to contact me next week, I (stay)

Nancy: I (call)

you if there are any problems.

Doug: This is the first time I have ever been away from the kids.

Nancy: Don't worry, they (be)

be fine.

at the Hoffman Hotel.

5.

Samantha: Just think, next week at this time, I (lie)

on a tropical beach in

Maui drinking Mai Tais and eating pineapple.

Darren: While you are luxuriating on the beach, I (stress)

out over this

marketing project. How are you going to enjoy yourself knowing that I am working so hard?
Samantha: I 'll manage somehow.
Darren: You're terrible. Can't you take me with you?

Samantha: No. But I (send)

Darren: Great, that (make)

you a postcard of a beautiful, white sand beach.

me feel much better.