Uses of the Future Progressive Tense

Watch the video, read the lesson, and do the exercises: 

In English, the future tenses are used to talk about an action that will occur in the future. The simple future tense talks about actions that will begin and end in the future.

Examples: 

• Next week, he will be 20 years old. 
• I will call you tomorrow.
• I will read that book. 

In these examples, the action will occur at a time later than now (the future). 

The future progressive tense (also called the future continuous tense) is also used to talk about an action that will happen in the future. However, unlike the simple future tense, the future progressive tells you that the action will actually be in progress at a certain period in the future. This tense puts emphasis on the continuation of the action.

This tense is formed with the modal verb will plus be plus the -ing form of the verb (for example: hiking, singing, celebrating, and so on).

Examples:

• Next week, we will be celebrating his 20th birthday.

This example tells us that the action of celebrating will be in progress next week. 

• Our family will be flying to London tomorrow.

This example tells us that the action of flying will be in progress tomorrow. 

• You will be receiving a call from our company in the coming weeks. 

This example tells us that the action of receiving a call will happen in the next few weeks.

So when should you use the future progressive tense? 

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Interrupted Actions in the Future

Use the future progressive tense to talk about an action in the future that overlaps or is interrupted by another, shorter action or time.

The action in the future progressive tense usually starts before and might continue after the second action or time. 

Examples:

• I will be studying when you arrive. 
• I will be working late tonight, so I will not be at home when you visit.
• Will you be waiting for her when her plane lands tonight?

In these examples, the action in progress (in bold) is being interrupted by another action (in italics). 

(Notice that the interruptions in the sentences above are actions written in the simple present tense.)

You can also use a specific time as an interruption of the action in progress.

Examples:

• Tomorrow at noon, I will be eating lunch with my mom.

I will be in the process of eating lunch with my mom at noon tomorrow. 

• At 8:00, I will still be driving home from work.

I will be in the process of driving home from work at 8:00. 

Finally, you can combine a specific time with an action as an interruption.

Examples:

When you call at noon tomorrow, I will be eating lunch with my mom.

• Will you be waiting for her when her plane lands at 8:00 tonight?

 

Parallel Actions in the Future

Use the future progressive tense to talk about two actions that will be happening at the same time.

Examples:

• I will be studying and my sister will be making dinner tonight.
• We will be discussing and planning the project at work tomorrow. 

Parallel actions are often used to describe the atmosphere at a specific point in the future.

Example:

• When I get home from work everyone will be busy. Sally will be preparing dinner, Tim will be studying, and John will be walking the dog. 

Predicting the Future

Use the future progressive tense to talk about something that we expect to happen in the future.

Examples:

• The man will be delivering the package at 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
• If everything goes as planned, she will be teaching here next year after she graduates.
• I’ll be hearing from the company about the job offer tomorrow.

We can also use the future progressive tense to predict the present.

Examples:

• Don’t text John now - he will be driving.
• I can’t go home right now, the children will be sleeping!

In these sentences, we are using the future progressive tense to make predictions about what John and the children are likely to be doing at this exact moment in time, which is the present.

Polite Questions

Use the future progressive tense to make polite questions about someone’s plans.

Examples:

• Will you be studying for your test tomorrow?

I might ask this question as a way of politely suggesting that this person should study for the test, or I may be wondering if the person is available to spend time with me. 

• Will you be using the car tonight?
  

I might ask this question because I want to know if the car is free for me to use tonight. 

In each of these sentences, the speaker is politely asking about someone’s future plans. 

Arrangements in the Future

Use the future progressive tense to talk about arrangements or plans in the future. 

Examples:

• We will be leaving tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.

In this sentence, we are using the future progressive tense to show that we have made arrangements or plans to leave at a fixed time in the future. You can use this to give someone a reminder or a warning of the arrangements.

• We will be leaving tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., so don’t be late!
• Don’t forget that John will be arriving at noon. 
• Remember, we will be having the meeting at your house next week.

Practice

Part A: Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb for the future progressive tense. 

Example: He (wait) _________________ when my plane arrives.

Answer: He will be waiting when my plane arrives.

Part B: Interruptions

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verbs. 

Example: I (wait) _________________ when he (arrive) _________________. 

Answer: I will be waiting when he arrives.

Part C: Underline the sentence parts written in the future progressive tense. 

When I grow up, do you know what I will be doing? I am going to be a famous movie director. I will be working with celebrities on large movie sets. I will be making a lot of money. I will also be spending a lot of money. I am going to be rich! Everyone is going to know my name. When my friends come to visit, I will be introducing them to many famous actors. My friends will be amazed! But first, I have to go wash the dishes because my mom will be coming home soon, and she will be grounding me for life if I do not finish my chores... 

Answers:

Part A: 

1. They will be dancing all night.
2. Don’t forget that we will be leaving at 10:00 tomorrow morning!
3. She will be studying until midnight.
4. The children will be watching television when I get home.
5. At 8:00, the baby will be sleeping.
6. I guess we will be riding the bus to work next week because the car has a flat tire.
7. I hope the sun will be shining on Sunday for the wedding.
8. Our family will be moving to the United States next year.
9. The server will be bringing our drinks any minute.
10. If you come over at noon, I will be working in my garden.

Part B: 

1. He will be reading when I callI him.
2. When the plane lands, we will be waiting. 
3. You will be sleeping when she returns. 
4. I will be working when my boss comes to work. 
5. They will be eating dinner when you leave the house.
6. We will be playing a game when dad enters the room.
7. When the phone rings, I will be studying for my test.
8. When the police arrive, the kids will be running down the street. 
9. Mostly likely, it will be raining when you visit.
10. James will be traveling to Alaska when his package arrives. 

Part C:

When I grow up, do you know what I will be doing? I am going to be a famous movie director. I will be working with celebrities on large movie sets. I will be making a lot of money. I will also be spending a lot of money. I am going to be rich! Everyone is going to know my name. When my friends come to visit, I will be introducing them to many famous actors. My friends will be amazed! But first, I have to go wash the dishes because my mom will be coming home soon, and she will be grounding me for life if I do not finish my chores...

 

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