Future Continuous Tense
The future continuous is made up of two parts: ‘will’ and a verb in the present tense. I’ll see you tonight. We’ll talk later.
The future continuous tense is not discussed a lot in grammar classes, but is used a great deal in speaking. It is important to know when to use the future continuous in speech.
You can use either form interchangeably. I’ll see you tonight. I’m going to see you tonight.
Use the Future Continuous Only for Action Verbs
Use the Future Continuous to talk about activities like walking, talking, thinking. I’ll go jogging with you tonight. I’m going to speak with my adviser after class.
Do not Use the Future Continuous with Stative Verbs
Stative verbs describe a state of being like, seeming, sensing, being, or perceiving.
Use the present participle (-ing) when using verbs of
will + form of -be (am, are, is are) + participle I am going to sleep now.
will + form of -be (am, are, is, are) + going to + simple verb When I graduate I’m going to be a famous writer!
| Future Continuous | Form | Purpose | Example |
| most common use is to talk about an activity that will occur and continue for a certain amount of time | will + be + -ing am/is/are + going to be + -ing | plan or statement about an ongoing activity in the future | Mary will be cooking all day. |
| an activity that will continue now and into the future | will + be + -ing am/is/are + going to be + -ing | plan or statement about an current activity in the future | Bob’ll be studying until late tonight. I’m going to be driving all day to get to there by tomorrow. |
| an action or time that interrupts ongoing event in the future | am/is/are + going to be + -ing | interrupt an action or time in the future | He’ll be making breakfast when the bus picks her up. He’s going to be making breakfast when the bus picks her up. |
| Question form used to politely ask about the future | will + subject+be + -ing am/is/are + going to be + -ing | ask for information | Will you be attending the banquet tonight? Are you going to go to be attending the banquet tonight? |
| project oneself into the future | will + subject+be + -ing | guess or see something happening | By December I will be speaking Spanish. Linda will be swimming in the ocean next summer. |
| to believe or guess at what is happening at this moment | am/is/are + going to be + -ing | what is happening now according to what you know | Alice won’t respond to my message anytime soon because she’ll be attending an important meeting at work. |