Future Continuous Tense

Future Continuous Tense

You use the future continuous tense to describe actions that will be ongoing at some future time when some other future action interrupts them. The interrupting action is expressed in the simple present.

  • I will be attending the conference when you arrive in town.
  • I am going to be calling my representatives about this bill until they release a statement about climate change.

In the present continuous, a specific time can act as the interrupting action.

  • At 5:45 PM, the motorcade will be coming down Broad Street.
  • Next March, the bluebonnets will be blooming in Texas.

As with other continuous tense forms, you cannot use stative verbs. “I will be being at the theater when they open the doors” is incorrect. Instead of the future continuous tense, use the simple future tense: “I will be at the theater when they open the doors.”

Forming the Future Continuous Tense

You make the future continuous tense by adding auxiliary verbs — either “will” or “be going to” — to the infinitive form of the verb “to be” + the -ing form of the root verb. Unlike the simple future, where you use “will” and “be going to” to express different intentions, in the future continuous tense, these auxiliaries are interchangeable.

  • She will be walking when we pick her up.
  • The men are going to be working on that intersection every weekend in August.

Making the Future Continuous Tense Negative

You form the negative future continuous tense with the auxiliary verb, as follows:

  • We are not going to be wrapping presents all night this Christmas.
  • I won’t (will not) be listening to that CD you bought me when my mother comes home.

Phrasing the Future Continuous Tense as a Question

To make the future continuous tense interrogative, use this order: auxiliary verb + subject + “to be” + the -ing form of the root verb. Interrogatives can also begin with adverbs expressing time or place.

  • Won’t you be shopping for hours this Saturday?
  • Where are they going to be arriving on time this year?
  • Will my parents be sitting in the front row when I give my speech?

Learn more about verb tenses.