Future Continuous Tense with 'Will'

In English there are many different ways to talk about the future. What can you remember about the future continuous tense with will? Here are ten sentences to see if you can remember how to form this tense. When you have completed the exercise, see if you can explain for other learners when and why we use this tense. Good luck!

Subject + will + be + base verb + ing

"I will be sleeping at midnight."

For negative sentences use won't (will not) instead of will:

"I won't be sleeping at midnight."

We use this tense to talk about an action that will be happening at a particular moment/time in the future. The action will have already started before that that moment/time, but will not finish at that time.

For example, I start work at 9am and finish at 5pm so if someone asks me, "What will you be doing at 10am on Monday?" I can answer, "I will be working at 10am on Monday". That action (working) will have started before that time and will finish much later.

For extra practice answer these 5 questions. Write your answers in the comments area.

1. What will you be doing at 9pm tomorrow?
2. What will you be doing on Sunday morning?
3. What will you be doing at this time in 5 years?
4. What will you be doing when you have retired form work?

You can start your answers like this:

1. At 9pm tomorrow, I will be...
2. On Sunday morning,...
3. At this time in 5 years,...
4. When I have retired form work,...

Now complete these sentences using the future continuous tense:

• 1. This time next year I (live) in London.
• 2. At 8PM tonight I (eat) dinner with my family.
• 3. They (run) for about four hours. Marathons are incredibly difficult!
• 4. Unfortunately, I (work) on my essay so I won’t be able to watch the match.
• 5. She (study) at the library tonight.
• 6. (you/wait) at the station when she arrives?
• 7. I (drink) at the pub while you are taking your exam!
• 8. (she/visit) her Grandmother again this week?
• 9. At 3PM I (watch) that movie on channel four.
• 10. (they/attend) your concert next Friday? It would be lovely to see them.