Future Continuous

Level B2 · Tenses

Use the future continuous for an action that will be in progress at a specific moment in the future: this time tomorrow, I'll be flying to Paris. It's also used for events that are simply expected to happen as part of the normal course of things, stated as a matter of fact rather than a decision: I'll be seeing Tom later, so I'll give him the message.

Form: will be + verb-ing (same spelling rules as the present continuous). One form for every subject, since will is a modal: I/you/he/she/it/we/they will be + verb-ing; won't be for the negative; questions invert will and the subject: will you be coming?

It's also a polite way to ask about someone's plans without sounding like a request or an order: will you be using the printer this afternoon? sounds softer than will you use the printer? or can I use the printer?, since it just asks what's already going to happen rather than asking someone to decide.

The most common mistake is confusing the future continuous (an action in progress at a specific future time) with the future simple (a single completed action) or going to (a plan): this time tomorrow, I'll be lying on a beach describes being in the middle of that state at that moment, not I'll lie on a beach tomorrow, which just states the whole event will happen.

Typical trigger words: this time tomorrow/next week, at + a future time (at 8 o'clock tonight), by then (careful: by then usually needs the future perfect, not the continuous), while (as in while you're waiting, I'll be preparing dinner).

Practice

Form & Actions in Progress · Future Continuous vs Simple/Going to