Grammar
Future continuous: form and practical use
At 4 p.m. tomorrow, I will be speaking with the landlord. The conversation has not begun yet, but it will be underway at that future time.
Use the future continuous to describe an activity in progress at a future time and to ask about expected arrangements politely.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
We will be discussing the budget. /wiː wɪl biː dɪˈskʌsɪŋ ðə ˈbʌdʒɪt/
The short answer
Use will be plus an -ing verb when the action will be in progress at a stated future time. For example, At this time next week, we will be staying with friends.
At 4 p.m. tomorrow, I will be speaking with the landlord.
Why it works: Speaking will be in progress at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
4 more examples
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When Maya arrives, we will be discussing the budget.
The discussion will already be happening when Maya arrives.
Not this:When Maya arrives, we
will discussthe budget. What changes: This sentence presents the discussion as the next event rather than an activity already in progress. -
During the renovation, the library will be closing at six.
The earlier closing time is an expected routine for the renovation period.
Not this:The library
will closeat six tonight. What changes: The simple future gives one closing event, while the continuous form can describe a temporary future schedule. -
Will you be using the meeting room after lunch?
The question asks about an expected arrangement before the speaker makes another plan.
Not this:
Will you usethe meeting room after lunch? What changes: This can ask for a decision. The continuous question more often asks what the listener already expects to do. -
I won't be answering messages during the interview.
The negative says that answering messages will not be happening during that period.
Not this:I
won't answerany messages during the interview. What changes: Both forms are possible. The continuous form describes the expected activity during the interview.
Read the full guide
Find the future reference point first. Then ask what will be happening at that point. If the action is in progress, use will be and the -ing form. This choice is useful when the progress of the activity matters more than its beginning, end, or result.
Show an action in progress at a future time
Use the future continuous when a future time is the view from which you describe an activity. The action is happening at that time. An exact clock time, a day, or another future event can give the sentence its reference point.
At 4 p.m. tomorrow, I will be speaking with the landlord.
The future time is 4 p.m. Speaking is in progress then.
This time next month, we will be moving into the new office.
The move is pictured as an activity happening at that future point.
Which form shows an activity underway at 4 p.m.: will speak or will be speaking?
Use will be speaking. The -ing form shows the activity in progress at the stated time.
Build the form accurately
The form is subject plus will be plus the -ing form. Will does not change with the subject. Use will be with I, you, she, and they. In ordinary speech and writing, use won't be for will not be when a contraction suits the tone.
The design team will be reviewing the draft on Thursday.
Will be reviewing contains the auxiliary will, be, and the -ing form reviewing.
They won't be staying after the reception.
Won't be staying is the negative future continuous form.
Complete the sentence: She will be ___ the results at noon. Choose present or presenting.
Use presenting. The verb after will be needs the -ing form.
Use another future event as the reference point
A clause with when, while, before, or after can identify the future moment. In many time clauses, English uses the present simple even though the meaning is future. The future continuous belongs in the main clause when it describes the activity in progress.
When Maya arrives, we will be discussing the budget.
Arrives uses the present simple in the time clause. Will be discussing describes the activity already underway.
While you are traveling, I will be looking after the plants.
Looking after the plants continues during the future period of travel.
Choose the better time clause: When the guests arrive or When the guests will arrive?
Use When the guests arrive. A time clause normally uses the present simple for a future meaning.
Describe a temporary future routine
The future continuous can describe a repeated or continuing situation that is expected during a limited future period. This is useful for schedules that are different for a while, such as opening hours during repairs or a work pattern during a project.
During the renovation, the library will be closing at six.
Closing at six is an expected routine for the period of renovation.
For the next two weeks, I will be working from home.
Working from home is presented as a temporary situation over a future period.
Which form makes the limited period clearer: I will work from home or I will be working from home?
Both can be correct. Will be working places the arrangement inside the stated two-week period.
Ask about an expected arrangement
Future continuous questions often ask what someone already plans or expects to do. They can sound less direct because the speaker is checking an arrangement before asking for help or making a plan. The situation still decides how polite a question sounds.
Will you be using the meeting room after lunch?
The speaker asks about the other person's expected use of the room.
Will you be attending the conference in June?
The question asks about an existing plan or expectation.
Which question asks about an arrangement: Will you be using the room or Will you use the room?
Will you be using the room usually asks about an expected arrangement.
Choose between nearby future forms
Choose the simple future when the event, decision, or result is the point. Choose the present continuous for a fixed personal arrangement. Choose the future perfect when an action will finish before a stated future time. The future continuous keeps attention on the activity while it is happening.
By Friday, we will have completed the report.
Will have completed shows that the report will be finished before Friday.
At noon on Friday, we will be presenting the report.
Will be presenting shows the presentation in progress at noon.
Choose the form for a completed result before Friday: will have completed or will be completing?
Use will have completed. The future perfect focuses on completion before the future deadline.
Before you go
Remember this
Use will be plus an -ing verb to show an action in progress at a future time. A time expression or another future event often provides the reference point. The same form can describe a temporary future routine, make a negative, or ask about an expected arrangement.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Future continuous: form and practical use"
What is the future continuous tense?
The future continuous uses will be plus an -ing verb to show an action in progress at a future time. In At 4 p.m. tomorrow, I will be speaking with the landlord, the conversation is underway at 4 p.m.
At 4 p.m. tomorrow, I will be speaking with the landlord.
What is the formula for the future continuous?
Use subject plus will be plus verb-ing for every subject. Make a negative with will not be or won't be. In a question, put will before the subject, then use be and the -ing form.
Tomorrow, I will speak with the landlord.
When should I use the future continuous?
Use it when a future time or event is the point from which you describe an action. It also works for an expected temporary routine, such as altered opening hours during a renovation.
When Maya arrives, we will be discussing the budget.
What is the difference between will do and will be doing?
Will plus a base verb often names an event, decision, or result. Will be plus an -ing verb shows the action in progress. Compare a planned conversation with a conversation already happening at a stated time.
When Maya arrives, we will discuss the budget.
Can the future continuous make a question more polite?
Often, yes. A question about whether someone will be using a room asks about an expected arrangement and can sound less direct than a request for a decision. Context and tone still matter.
During the renovation, the library will be closing at six.