Future continuous

The Future Continuous Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Future Indefinite Tense (will be) and Participle I of the notional verb (will be working). The contracted negative form is: won’t be working.

The Future Continuous Tense is used:

1) to denote an action which will be going on at a definite moment in the future. The definite moment can be indicated by another future action expressed by a verb in the Present Indefinite, by an adverbial phrase (at 2 p.m., at this time tomorrow, all evening, from October to November, etc.) or is understood from the situation. e.g. I‘ll already be working when you return. At 12 o‘clock I‘ll still be working. I‘m sure you won‘t be able to speak to him, he will be working.

2) to talk about events that are a result or part of an arrangement made in advance. (There is, in fact, little difference between this usage and the use of the Present Cont. for future arrangements.

The Future Cont., however, is used to distance the arrangement a little, making it more fixed and less open to change.) e.g. Buses won’t be running here this weekend due to essential track repairs. The band will be performing live in Warsaw next summer. (Compare: When are you moving to Leeds?)

3) It can have a modal colouring: it can denote an action which is sure to take place, often independently of the will of the speaker and the doer of the action. To show the speaker‘s certainty about the predicted events, states, etc. parenthetical phrases such as I am sure, I know, I believe are often used. e.g. I hope you will not be using the car tomorrow evening; I‘d like to borrow it if you don‘t mind. I feel I’ll be asking the same question tomorrow. Mike is sympathetic because he knows his successor will be having a hard time doing the job.

4) to denote a future action which is part of a regular routine (a matter-of-course event), which doesn‘t need any special arrangement. e.g. I‘ll be passing the post-office on my way home from work, so I‘ll buy you a newspaper. Now that Nick is in Helen‘s department they will be seeing a lot of each other. Compare:

statements

 I‘ll see him about it tomorrow. (a promise or a decision)

 I‘m seeing him about it tomorrow. (a pre-arranged plan)

 I‘ll be seeing him about it tomorrow. (a matter-of-course event)

questions

 When will you move? or When are you moving? (straightforward enquiries)

 When will you be moving? Will you be starting tomorrow? (polite enquiries)

Exercises: future continuous

Ex. 21. Complete the following sentences, using the Future Continuous Tense:

Pattern: My holiday is coming to an end. (to return to the University in two days) - My holiday is coming to an end. I'll be returning to the University in two days.] 1. I can't discuss the matter with you now. But (to see you tomorrow)? 2. He will be here in time He (to come by the fast train). 3. She is on a visit She (not to dine with us today). 4. I don't think they will come. They (to move to a new flat). 5. There are a lot of people here and more (to arrive next week). 6. Let's wait. He (to wake up soon). 7. Look, it's getting dark. It (to rain in a minute). 8. There's nothing he likes better than to tell stories. I wonder what he (to tell us next). 9. Who (to give a talk) on the problem next Friday? 10. Don't go. We (to have dinner in about twenty minutes).

Ex. 22. Mind the "softening effect" of the Future Continuous. Translate into Russian.

1. I'll work on it tomorrow (intention, probably a promise) - I'll be working on it tomorrow (futurity) 2. When will you finish these letters? (boss to assistant) When will you be seeing Mr. White? (assistant to boss) 3. Mary won't pay this bill (she refuses to) - Mary won't be paying this bill (futurity) 4. Will you join u for dinner? (invitation) - Will you be joining us for dinner? (futurity) 5. Won't you come with us? (invitation) - Won't you be coming with us? (futurity).

Ex. 23. Translate into English using the Future Continuous.

1. Скоро вечера станут длиннее. 2. Я думаю, он скоро уедет. 3. Мы встретимся с вами сегодня вечером. 4. Я буду искать кого-то на эту работу. 5. Я знаю, что я буду встречаться с ним в Оксфорде/ 6. Вы знаете, что вы будете делать вечером? 7. Интересно, когда ваш брат снова приедет в Москву. 8. Мне очень жаль, что я не приду. 9. На будущей неделе мы будем готовиться к экзаменам. 10. Кто из вас будет встречать завтра гостей? 11. Вы все еще будете работать, если я приду в 9? 12. Сегодня вечером я поведу своего друга в кафе. 13. Если вы придете в 5, я буду упаковывать вещи. 14. Они будут обсуждать этот доклад в это же время завтра. 15. Я буду встречаться с инженерами завтра днем/ 16. Они поженятся следующим летом. 17. Давайте пойдем быстрее, через минуту начнется дождь. 18. Я не буду писать ему. Я увижусь с ним. 19. Приходите, пожалуйста. Он будет рассказывать о своей поездке в Англию. 20. Скоро мы переезжаем на новую квартиру. 21. Завтра ты будешь проходить мимо театра, купи два билета. 22. Летом вы опять будете путешествовать?

Summary table on Continuous Tense

Meaning	Time Indicators	Present	Past	Future
An action going on at the definite period of time	now, at present, at this moment, at 5,at that time, while	George is going to the University at this moment	George was going to the University at 5 The phone rang while I was having a bath	George will be going to the University at 5
An action filling up the whole period of time/limited duration/	now,from5 to 6,from morning till night, the whole day, all day long	He came to England last month and now hr is writing a new novel	It was raining the whole day yesterday	Kate will be writing the report the whole day tomorrow
An action thought of as a continual process, as an emotional coloring, such as exaggeration, irritation	always, ever, constantly	He is always writing with a special pen  just because he likes to be different He is forever loosing his keys	My grandfather was always forgetting things
An action in the very near future	tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, in a day, next week, one of these days, soon, tonight, on Sunday, in February	I am leaving for London tomorrow