Future Continuous
The Future Continuous tense describes an activity that will happen before and after a time in the future.
We use it to say that something will be in progress (going on) at a particular moment in the future.
It is most commonly used used with "will" but is also possible with "be going to."
It is formed with will + be + verb-ing or be going to + be + verb-ing.
- When you get home tonight, I'm going to be cooking dinner.
- When class finishes, it will still be raining.
- You should not phone between 6pm and 7pm. We will be having dinner during that time.
- This time next year, I'll be studying in university.
The Future Continuous doesn't require consideration about plans, intentions, etc.
- My plan: At 8pm, I'll be sitting in a movie theatre. or I'm going to be sitting in a movie theatre.
- Prediction based on opinion: It'll be raining when you get here in November. or It's going to be raining when you get here in November.
- Prediction based on evidence: They'll be celebrating tonight if this continues. or They're going to be celebrating tonight if this continues.
Review - The Future Continuous
Review - The Future Continuous
Future Perfect
The Future Perfect describes an activity that will be finished before a specific future time. It is formed with will have + past participle.
- Hopefully, in 2021, I will have started my career.
- If we get there too late tonight, the movie will have already started.
- By the time we get home, we will have gotten very hungry.
- We will have gone to bed before you call us at 12am.
The Future Perfect is often used with the prepositions, "before," "by," or "by the time." By + Noun, By the time + Clause (Subject + Verb). The meaning of "by" is very similar to "before." More specifically, it means "no later than (a certain time)" or "at or before (a certain time)".
- Before I go to bed tonight, I will have had a very busy day today.
- By the time you go back to your country, you will have really improved your English.
- She will have finished class by 4pm.
- I will have returned these books to the library by Wednesday.
Let's review the future tenses with an example class schedule for tomorrow:
- 8:30am - Start Class
- 10:10am - Start Break
- 10:30am - Finish Break
- 12:05pm - Finish Class
- At 8:30am tomorrow, we start class.
- (Present Simple: Future event based on a timetable)
- At 9:00am tomorrow, we will be studying.
- (Future Continuous: Activity happens before and after a specific time)
- At 9:00am tomorrow, we will have already started class.
- (Future Perfect: Activity has completed before a specific time)
- At 10:10am tomorrow, we take a break.
- (Present Simple: Future event based on a timetable)
- At 10:20am tomorrow, we will be taking a break.
- (Future Continuous: Activity happens before and after a specific time)
- At 10:20am tomorrow, we will have started the break.
- (Future Perfect: Activity has completed before a specific time)
- At 10:30am tomorrow, we resume class.
- (Present Simple: Future event based on a timetable)
- At 11:00am tomorrow, we will be studying.
- (Future Continuous: Activity happens before and after a specific time)
- At 11am tomorrow, we will have resumed studying.
- (Future Perfect: Activity has completed before a specific time)
Exercise
Please click the Exercise link to continue.