Future continuous short rule. Future long tense

affirmative form Future Continuous Tense is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the future tense (shall be for the 1st person singular and plural and will be for all other persons) + Participle I (participle I or ing form) of the main verb.

shall be, will be + Participle I

I shall be working. I will work.
He will be writing. He will write.

negative form Future Continuous is formed by adding a negation not to the auxiliary verb shall for the 1st person singular and plural and will for all other persons + be + Participle I of the main verb.

I shall not be sleeping at 7 o'clock. I won't be sleeping at 7 o'clock.
Not will not be working all day tomorrow. He won't be working all day tomorrow.

Interrogative form Future Continuous is formed by rearranging the auxiliary verb and the subject of the affirmative form - the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. If there is a question word, it is placed before the auxiliary verb.

Will you be sleeping at 7 o'clock. Will you sleep at 7 o'clock?
What will you be doing from 5 till 7 p.m. tomorrow? What will you be doing tomorrow from 5 to 7 pm?

In interrogative and negative sentences in the Future Continuous form, often, especially in colloquial speech, abbreviated forms are used:

• 1. In affirmative sentences, the auxiliary verb undergoes a change, in which only the last two letters remain, separated from the pronoun by an apostrophe.

I’ll be working on Sunday from 10 till 12
(I'll be working… = I shall/will be working…)
He'll be playing chess at 6 o'clock. He will be playing chess at 6 o'clock.
(He'll be… = Not will be…)

• 2. In negative sentences, the spelling and pronunciation of auxiliary verbs change - they merge with a negative particle not, with the middle letter o omitted.

I shan't be working from 10 till 12.
(I shan't be working… = I shall not be working…)
He won't be playing chess at 6 o'clock. He won't be playing chess at 6 o'clock.
(He won't be playing… = He won't be playing…)

Use

• 1. Future Continuous is used to express a long (continued) action that will take place at a certain point in the future (near or distant). This moment may

a) to be implied, to be clear from the context.

Our work is not finished yet and we shall be working on this subject.
Our work is not finished yet, and we will work on this problem.

b) be expressed by the circumstances of time: at that time - at that time, at 5 o'clock - at 5:00, all day tomorrow - all day tomorrow, all the time - all time, from 6 till 8 - from 6 to 8 o'clock etc.

I shall be waiting for my friends at 12 o'clock tomorrow. I will be waiting for my friends tomorrow at 12 o'clock.
All day tomorrow we shall be sleeping in the train on our way to the South. Tomorrow we will sleep all day on the train on the way south.
She will be taking her exam next week. She will take her exams next week.

• 2. Future Continuous is used in the subordinate clause of time and conditions to express a long time in the future, and the verb in the main clause is expressed in Simple Present / Present Indefinite, although it also refers to the future tense.

I shall be working when you come to see me. When you come to me, I will work.
When I reach Moscow, it will probably be snowing. When I arrive in Moscow, it may be snowing.

In order not to miss new useful materials,

Future Continuous(long future tense) is widely used in English. Like all the band times continuous, it conveys a continuous action occurring at a specific moment indicated in the context. Future Continuous will help you diversify your speech, as in some cases it can be an alternative Future Simple or Present Continuous.

How Future Continuous is Formed

Statement

An affirmative sentence consists of a subject, an auxiliary verb will be and the main verb ending - ing.

Negation

In negative sentences between will and be particle appears not.

Verb will usually takes an abbreviated form. In the affirmation, it is combined with the pronoun, in the negative - with the particle not:

• He'll be building.
• We'll be drawing.
• You won't be thinking.
• They won't be walking.

Question

In order to construct an interrogative sentence, we put in the first place will, after it the subject, then be and main verb.

Time Future Continuous not considered for initial stage teaching English. We divided the functions of this time into 2 groups: the yellow block contains the functions necessary for the average level, the red block contains the functions necessary for the high level.

Where does the Future Continuous meet?

Average level

1. Future Continuous shows an action that will take place at a certain time in the future. The offer does not specify when the event will start or end. We emphasize that at a particular moment the action will last.

   In this case, the time of action is indicated using the following words: this time tomorrow / next week(this time tomorrow/next week), at 3 o'clock tomorrow(at 3 o'clock tomorrow), at 10 a.m.(at 10 am), in the morning/noon/evening(morning/afternoon/evening) tonight at 6 p.m.(tonight at 6 o'clock) at none(on midday), at midnight(at midnight), in a week/month/year(in a week/month/year).

   Trevor will be watching football match tomorrow at 8 p.m.– Trevor will watch football tomorrow at 8 pm.

   I will be studying at the university in a year. - I will be studying in university in a year.

2. Future Continuous used to politely ask a person about their plans for the near future. In such situations, we want this person to do something for us. We are trying to find out if his plans match our desires.
   

   Will you be going to the kitchen later? Bring me a glass of soda. - You will you go later in the kitchen? Grab me a glass of soda.

   I don't like public transport. Will you be driving a car to get to the airport? - I don't like public transport. You you will go to the airport by car?

3. Future Continuous used in the same way as Present Continuous: To report planned activities that will take place in the near future.
   

   they will be leaving for Chicago next week. = They are leaving for Chicago next week. - They are are leaving in Chicago next week.

   We will be jogging with Julia in the park today. = We are jogging with Julia in the park today. - We running with Julia in the park today.

Difficult cases of using Future Continuous

High level

1. Future Continuous shows an action that the speaker believes will happen in the future. The reason for this belief may be a consequence of the natural course of events or the result of an agreement.
   

   I can ask John to call you. I 'll be seeing him tomorrow. “I can ask John to call you. I see you with him tomorrow.

   He won't be taking part in a competition as he has seriously hurt his arm. - He will not take part in competition, as he seriously injured his hand.

2. We use Future Continuous as a neutral replacement Future Simple. In such cases Future Continuous shows that the speaker is only interested in plans, while Future Simple sounds like an invitation, interest, desire to do something.
   

   Will you be going to a new restaurant with us tonight? - You will you go with us in new restaurant tonight? (we are only interested in plans: will a person go or not go to a restaurant with us)

   Will you go to a new restaurant with us tonight? - Let's go to with us to the new restaurant tonight. (we invite you to come with us)

On this list of functions Future Continuous comes to the end. As you can see, the list is small. Take the quiz to practice using this time and don't forget to download the education worksheet Future Continuous Tense.

(*.pdf, 184 Kb)

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Test

Future Continuous - long future tense in English

Study the topic Future Continuous follows, perhaps, the last in a series of times Continuous groups. That is, if you have not yet mastered the rules for the formation and use of times and, then it is better to do this before moving on to acquaintance with the future continuous tense. If other tenses of the Continuous group are familiar to you, you should thoroughly study the future continuous tense. Consider the following example:

As you can see from the example above, Mark will be watching football for a whole period of time (from 8.30 am to 10.15 am). And at any time within this period, it will perform the same action.

Future Continuous is a projection of any of the Continuous tenses into the future: the action lasts for a certain point in time or over a period of time, but all this will take place in the future. Of course, situations where it is necessary to use the Future Continuous are far from common, as they require a specific context that respects the conditions: the duration of the action, the presence of an exact moment or period of time, and, which is especially rare in speech, the situation describes the future. Here are some more examples illustrating the use of the Future Continuous in speech:

Thus, Future Continuous is not one of the most common in English speech temporary forms, which, however, does not make its study optional, especially since the formation of this temporary form very simple.

Affirmative sentence

So, how to form a predicate for affirmative proposal in Future Continuous? To do this, it is necessary to put an auxiliary before the form of the continued infinitive (Infinitive Continuous), characteristic of the future tense - will:

will be Ving

Above is a universal scheme for the formation of a predicate affirmative sentence in the future continuous tense. Shall how an auxiliary verb can be used instead will with the subject in the first person (I, we), but its use is quite rare, being considered obsolete and preferred in interrogative sentences.

Negative sentence

If the required sentence must be negative, that is, contain the particle not, this particle is attached to the verb will, which ultimately gives the abbreviated form won't (=will not).

Questions

Interrogative sentences in which the predicate is in the form of Future Continuous are also easy to form. (in questions its use for the first person is not uncommon) take place before the subject, while the continued infinitive (Infinitive Continuous) is placed after the subject. it basic circuit- scheme, changing which you can form any type of question in the Future Continuous.

As you can see from the examples, the short answer Yes/No also requires the use of will/won't. The general question in the Future Continuous is often used to ask about the interlocutor's plans for a certain moment or period in the future, as in the examples given.

Special question adds a question word to the beginning of the diagram above, for example:

Question to the subject also contains an interrogative word (Who / What) at the beginning of the sentence, but is distinguished as a separate type of question due to the absence of a subject in its composition, or rather, the role of the subject here is played by the interrogative word Who / What:

Alternative question brings us back to the original scheme of education general question, but adds an alternative to the content of the question, that is, a choice that is expressed by the union or (or):

Separated question, added to a sentence that does not contain negation, consists of verb form won't and the subject expressed by the corresponding personal pronoun, for example:

When expressing doubt about what was said in the negative sentence, the disjunctive question, on the contrary, takes affirmative form: will and the subject expressed by a suitable personal pronoun, for example:

Use

The scope of the future continuous tense covers mainly long-term actions that will unfold in the future, that is, will be in progress, at a certain moment or period of time in the future. This is a rather narrow scope of the verb form. Compare for example sentences in Future Continuous and Future Simple:

No matter how boring grammar is sometimes, its numerous laws, exceptions, you can’t run away from it and you can’t hide. English, like any other language, is firmly based on rules and patterns. One of those nuances that is important to comprehend is the Future Continuous.

If you have already reached this rule, then you completely understand the meaning of this tense - the future continuous. Comparing with other brothers from this group (Present Continuous, Past Continuous), you will see one common feature- all three times emphasize the duration of the process. In this article, we will look at exactly the actions in the future.

Education Future Continuous Tense

According to all standards, first you need to learn the rules of education of this time. Compared to the past and present, the future continuous is very easy to remember and use all forms. As always, you will need auxiliary verbs to describe upcoming events. will/shall . Plus a verb is added to them to be (without a particle to) and a predicate with an ending -ing.

And, of course, it is important to know short forms, since when pronouncing the phrase is easier to perceive.

I shall = I'll

shall not = shan't

will not = won't

I shall be sleeping at 11 o'clock tomorrow. = I'll be sleeping at 11 o'clock tomorrow. I will be sleeping at 11 tomorrow.
I shall not be sleeping at 11 o'clock tomorrow. = I shan't be sleeping at 11 o'clock tomorrow. Tomorrow at 11 I won't be sleeping.

Modern English recognizes the will form in all cases.

Using Future Continuous (Future Progressive)

1. Like the whole family of long tenses, the Future Continuous is used to describe actions in development at a certain moment, but with reference to the future.

• clear from the context.

Our work is not finished yet and we shall be working on this subject. — Our work is not finished yet, and we will work on this problem.

• expressed circumstance of time: all day tomorrow, at 5 o’clock tomorrow, from 5 till 8, at that time tomorrow and talks about plans for the near future.

I shall be waiting for my friends at 6 o'clock tomorrow. I will be waiting for my friends tomorrow at 6 o'clock.

• parallel actions in the future with while, or in subordinate clauses with when, where the phrase in secondary sentence expressed present simple, despite the fact that the action refers to the future. At the same time, the subordinate clause seems to interrupt the main one, interferes with the process.

She will be working when you come to see her. - When you come to her, she will work.

While he will be cooking dinner she will be watching TV. While he cooks dinner, she will watch TV.

2. How polite request. If we ask about plans and intentions, then it is better to express it in the future long tense, it sounds softer.

Will you be using this car this evening? Do you need a car tonight?

3. How planned action, arrangement.

I shall be going to the city later. Can I bring smth to you? — I will go to the city later. Would you like to bring something?

Comparison of Future Simple and Continuous

If we want to express an action, for example, that happens in the middle of some event in the future at a certain time, or about plans and intentional actions, then we use Continuous. And if it’s just as a message about a future event, as a “prediction”, the assumption said “on the go” is Simple. Let's look at examples Future Continuous and Simple:

He will not work in the garden. He won't work in the garden, as an assumption.
He will not be working in the garden. - He will not work in the garden, due to some circumstances, or the action is already thought out and planned.

This time is not very common in speech, but you need to know it. Remember, the main difference between Continuous and other long tenses is not only the duration, but also the exact indication of the time or period in the future. If you do several tests, tasks, then your knowledge will be strengthened. You can find exercises for Future Continuous on our website and check all the learned information.

Exercises on the Future Continuous

Choose the right option.

1. I shall go/shall be going to the party when my brother arrives.
2. Will you pass / will you be passing me the books from him tomorrow?
3. I'm sure Tom will give up/is giving up the job.
4. Jack isn't free on Monday. He will write/will be writing at home .
5. Jim is going to study from 7 till 10 this evening. So at 8.30 this evening he will learn/will be learning new words.
6. While I shall read/ shall be read this poem she will play/will be playing the piano.
7. When you call him he will sleep/will be sleeping.
8. I hope the next mail will bring/ will be bringing news from home.
9. Her homework is not finished. She will work/will be working at it.
10. At what time will you be/ will you be at home?

1. shall be going - 2
2. Will you pass-1
3. will give up - 1
4. will be writing. - 2
5. will be learning-2
6. shall be reading/ will be playing-2
7. will be sleeping-2
8. will bring-1
9. will be working-2
10. will you be -1.