The Future Continuous is used to express:

1. – an action in progress at a definite future moment, which can be indicated by the adverbial phrases of definite time such as at this time tomorrow (next week, next month, etc), at 9 o’clock on Monday, etc or be clear from the situation:

Example: God knows what I’ll be saying in a minute.

2. – an action which the speaker expects to take place in the future in the natural course of events, or which will definitely happen in the future as the result of a routine:

Example: I feel I’ll be asking you the same question tomorrow.

I’ll be seeing Tom tomorrow. (because we work together)

Note: 1) Will you be coming to the meeting tonight? (casual question about future event)

Will you come to the meeting tonight? (request)

2) I’ll come and visit you tomorrow. (intention, promise)

I’ll be coming to visit you tomorrow so I can bring the magazines then. (future activity in

normal course of events)

3. – an action which is already planned or decided:

Example: I shall be travelling by train.

In many cases the Future Continuous can be replaced by the Present Continuous:

Example: I am travelling by train.

In both sentences there is a plain statement of future action. However, when a more distant or uncertain future is involved, the Future Continuous may be used instead of the Present Continuous.

Example: He says he’ll be returning from abroad some time in the future.

The use of the Present Continuous here requires a statement of a much less distant and uncertain arrangement or activity:

Example: He says he’s returning from abroad next month.

4. – polite enquiry meaning ‘What have you already decided?’, giving the idea that we are not trying to influence people, but we want to know if our wishes fit in with their plans:

Compare: Will you be staying in this evening? (just asking about plans)

Are you going to stay in this evening? (perhaps pressing for a decision)

Will you stay in this evening? (request or order)

15. Comment on the use and formation of the Future Perfect. Exemplify your commentary with the cases from the text. The Future Perfect is used to express:

1. – an action which will be completed before a given future moment which can be introduced by by the time, by then, by that time, by, before, until/till etc.:

Example: You’ll have gone to bed by the time I’ve finished.

16. Comment on the use and formation of the Future Perfect Continuous. Exemplify your commentary with the cases from the text. The Future Perfect Continuous is used to express:

1. – an action which will begin before a definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment and will be going on at that moment, or in other words, to emphasize the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future:

Example: We’ll have been working at this problem for a month when you visit us a 2^nd time.

Note:

• By the end of the month, he will have been training horses. (seen as a process)

• By the end of the month, he will have trained two horses. (seen as completed action, often involving quantity)

The Future Perfect Continuous is used with by ... for.

Note: After the time expressions by the time, until, before, we use the Present Indefinite because they inroduce time clauses. The Future Perfect and the Future Perfect Continuous may come either before or after the time clauses.

Example: By the time they reach York, they will have been travelling for four hours.

17. Comment on the use of the Present Continuous for the future action. Exemplify your commentary with the cases from the text. (When do we use the construction ‘to be going to’ rather than the Present Continuous)

We use be going to:

3. – for plans, intentions or ambitions we have for the future:

Example: I’m going to become a famous violinist one day. (ambition)

4. – in predictions when there is evidence that something will happen in the near future:

Example: Look at the clouds! It’s going to rain.

Note: a) we normally use be going to to talk about something we intend to do and Future Indefinite to give details or make comments:

Example: I’m going to have a party next week. I’ll invite all my friends.

b) we normally use the Present Continuous rather than be going to with verbs to go and to come:

Example: Sam is going to the market in a few minutes. Sheila is coming to my house for tea this afternoon.