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verbs  >  tenses  >  continous tenses  >  future continuous tense

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subject + will + be + verb-ing



(1) Don't call at nine as we'll be having dinner.
(2) This time next week I'll be sitting on the beach.



Actions and events in progress / incomplete at a specific time in the future

 


The future continuous refers to actions that will be in progress at some specific time in the future; i.e. actions that have already started but not yet be finished.

In example (1) you will start dinner before nine and finish dinner after nine.

In example (2) You will start sitting on the beach before two o'clock and finish sitting on the beach after two o'clock.

'This time next week' means the same time next week as it is now. So if it is now two o'clock and today is Thursday, then we are talking about two o'clock next Thursday.

Other uses of the future continuous

 


(1) A more formal way of referring to future plans and arrangements.

We'll be arriving at the hotel at around eight.
They'll be visiting the factory on Monday afternoon.


In both examples above, the present continous could be used :

We're arriving at the hotel at around eight.
They're visiting the factory on Monday afternoon.



(2) To refer to future actions and events that are expected to happen.

I'll be seeing Michael tomorrow morning.

This doesn't necessarily mean that you have an appointment with Michael; simply that you know you will see him tomorrow.



Online resources for this language point:

 


quiz
future perfect, future continuous and will - future quiz 01 Ten-question multiple-choice quiz
    
eltbase English language quizzes


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