Form
The future continuous is made up of two elements:
the simple future of the verb "to be" + the present participle (base+ing)
|
Subject |
+simple future of the verb "to be" |
+present participle |
|---|---|---|
|
You |
will be |
watching |
|
I |
will be |
staying |
To stay, future continuous
|
Affirmative |
Negative |
Interrogative |
Negative interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I will be staying. |
I won't be staying. |
Will I be staying? |
Won't I be staying? |
|
You will be staying. |
You won't be staying. |
Will you be staying? |
Won't you be staying? |
|
He will be staying. |
He won't be staying. |
Will he be staying? |
Won't he be staying? |
|
She will be staying. |
She won't be staying. |
Will she be staying? |
Won't she be staying? |
|
It will be staying. |
It won't be staying. |
Will it be staying? |
Won't it be staying? |
|
We will be staying. |
We won't be staying. |
Will we be staying? |
Won't we be staying? |
|
They will be staying. |
They won't be staying. |
Will they be staying? |
Won't they be staying? |
Functions
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.
The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the future.
Examples
-
This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
-
By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro.
-
Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.
The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future events.
Examples
-
He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
-
I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
-
You'll be missing the sunshine once you're back in England.
In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used to ask politely for information about the future.
Examples
-
Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
-
Will Jim be coming with us?
-
Will she be going to the party tonight?
-
Will I be sleeping in this room?
The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous events that we expect to happen in the future.
Examples
-
I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.
-
When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.
-
I'll be eating with Jane this evening so I can tell her.
When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already happening now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.
Examples
-
In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.
-
Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
-
Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
-
Won't stock prices still be falling in the morning?
-
Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.