Tenses:
Comprehensive Guide on Future Progressive (Continuous) Tenses for ELL
What is the future continuous tense?
The future continuous tense (also called the future progressive) is used to express actions in the future that are anticipated to last a known or unknown length of time.
The future continuous is formed for all subjects in the following manner:
subject + will be + present participle
Present Continuous Tense
- I am studying in the library.
- Colleen is playing on the soccer field.
- We are shopping at the mall.
- They are playing on the playground.
Future Continuous Tense
- I will be studying in the library.
- Colleen will be playing on the soccer field.
- We will be shopping at the mall.
- They will playing on the playground.
When is the future continuous tense commonly used?
The future continuous tense is commonly used with action verbs. The future simple emphasizes the intent of the subject to do the action of the verb. The future continuous expresses that the action will have some duration or that it will occur over period of time. Continuous tenses are not recommended for stative (state) verbs.
Future Simple
- I will clean my room tonight.
- You will fix my car tomorrow.
- John will help you with the problem.
- We will meet in one hour.
Future Continuous
- I will be cleaning my room tonight.
- You will be fixing my car tomorrow.
- John will be helping you with the problem.
- We will be meeting for about an hour.
What are examples of negative future continuous negative statements?
Negative statements in the future continuous t tense are formed in the following manner:
Subject + will + not + present participle of main verb
Future Continuous Statement
- I will be watching television.
- You will be moving the boxes.
- He will be working at the store.
- She will be playing in the backyard.
- It will be raining most of the day.
- We will be walking at the mall.
- They will be waiting at the bus stop.
Future Continuous Negative Statement
- I will not be watching television.
- You will not be moving the boxes.
- He will not be working at the store.
- She will not be playing in the backyard.
- It will not be raining most of the day.
- We will not be walking at the mall.
- They will not be waiting at the bus stop.
What are examples of future continuous questions?
Future continuous questions are formed in the following manner:
Will + subject + be + present participle of main verb
Future Continuous Question
- Will I be sleeping in here?
- Will you be working very long?
- Will he be playing much longer?
- Will she be teaching many more years?
- Will it be snowing in the mountains?
- Will we be doing this much longer?
- Will they be practicing here tomorrow?
Future Continuous Statement
- Yes, you will be sleeping in here.
- No, I won’t be working very long.
- Yes, he will be playing a bit longer.
- No, she will not be teaching much longer.
- Yes, it will be snowing in the mountains.
- No, we won’t be doing this much longer.
- Yes, they’ll be practicing here tomorrow.
What are good examples of the present continuous tense?
More Examples of the Present Continuous Tense
- I will be studying in the library.
- John will be helping you with the problem.
- They will be playing on the playground
- You will not be moving the boxes.
- He will not be working at the store any longer.
- I won’t be working at the store next week.
- She won’t be playing much longer.
- Will I be sleeping in here?
- Will it be snowing in the mountains?