Like all future forms, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time", "as soon as", "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct
While I will be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct
FORMFuture Continuous
[WILL BE] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
When your plane arrives tonight, I will be waiting for you.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERBing]
EXAMPLE:
When your plane arrives tonight, I am going to be waiting for you.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1Interrupted Action in the Future
Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
EXAMPLES:
I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.
I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.
While I am working, Steve will make dinner. (NOTICE "am working" because of "while.")
I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.
He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.
NOTE: No future tenses can be used in Time Clauses therefore you must say "While I am working... ." See the warning at the top of the page.
USE 2Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by an action in the Simple Future. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
EXAMPLES:
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to be eating dinner.
At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin. In the Future Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
EXAMPLES:
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to eat dinner. I am going to start eating at 6 p.m.
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to be eating dinner. I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 p.m. .
USE 3Parallel Actions
When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. These are Parallel Actions.
EXAMPLES:
I am going to be studying while he is making dinner.
While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.
Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4Atmosphere
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the future.
EXAMPLE:
When I arrive at the party every.... is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.
IMPORTANTNon-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any "continuous" tenses. Also, certain "non-continuous" meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in "continuous" tenses. To express the idea of Future Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.
EXAMPLES: Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct
Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct
ACTIVE / ***SIVE FORMSFuture Continuous
EXAMPLES:
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dog. ACTIVE
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dog will be being washed by John. ***SIVE
NOTE: ***sive forms of the Future Continuous are not common.
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct
I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
FORMFuture Perfect
[WILL HAVE] + [***T PARTICIPLE]
EXAMPLE:
I will have perfected my English by the time I come back from the U.S.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE] + [***T PARTICIPLE]
EXAMPLE:
I am going to have perfected my English by the time I come back from the US.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future
The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.
EXAMPLES:
By next November, I will have received my promotion.
By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.
EXAMPLES:
I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.
ACTIVE / ***SIVE***t Perfect
EXAMPLES:
The Post Office will have returned my package before I can pick it up. ACTIVE
My package will have been returned by the Post Office before I can pick it up. ***SIVE
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "until," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
I won't tell the student the answer until he has been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Correct
I won't tell the student the answer until he will have been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Not Correct
FORMFuture Perfect Continuous
[WILL HAVE BEEN] + [ VERB + ing ]
EXAMPLE:
I will have been waiting for two hours when her plane finally arrives.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE BEEN] + [ VERB + ing ]
EXAMPLE:
I am going to have been waiting for two hours when her plane finally arrives.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks" and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the ***t Perfect Continuous, however the duration stops in the future.
EXAMPLES:
They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Tony arrives.
She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.
James will have been teaching at the University for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
USE 2Cause of Something in the Future
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.
EXAMPLES:
Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.
Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying English in the United States for over two years.
IMPORTANT
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday", many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.
EXAMPLES:
I will be reading when my roommate returns. The reading will be interrupted.
I will have been reading for an hour when my roommate returns. The reading will stop just before my roommate returns.
ACTIVE / ***SIVEFuture Perfect Continuous
EXAMPLES:
The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. ACTIVE
The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. ***SIVE
NOTE: ***sive forms of the ***t Perfect Continuous are not common.
The Simple Future has two different forms in English, "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
FORMWill
[WILL] + [VERB]
EXAMPLES:
I will help him later.
I will never help him.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Simple Future (will help), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (will never help).
FORMBe Going To
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERB]
EXAMPLES:
He is going to meet Jane tonight.
He is definitely going to meet Jane tonight.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Simple Future (is going to meet), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (is definitely going to meet).
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless." In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
USE 1"Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help.
EXAMPLES:
A: I'm really hungry. B: I'll make some sandwiches.
A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep. B: I'll get you some coffee.
A: The phone is ringing. B: I'll get it.
USE 2"Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
EXAMPLES:
I will call you when I arrive.
If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
USE 3"Be going to" to Express a Plan
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future.
EXAMPLES:
He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
We are going to meet each other tonight at 6:00 PM.
A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake. B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
USE 4"Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples there is no difference in meaning.
EXAMPLES:
The year 2222 will be a very interesting year. The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
John Smith will be the next President. John Smith is going to be the next President.
The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards. The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.
ACTIVE / ***SIVE FORMSSimple Future
EXAMPLES:
John will certainly finish the work by 5:00 PM. ACTIVE The work will certainly be finished by 5:00 PM. ***SIVE
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. ACTIVE A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. ***SIVE
I had been waiting there for two hours before she finally arrived.
She had only been studying English for two years before she got the job.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as ***t Perfect Continuous (had been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had only been studying).
USE 1 Duration Before Something in the ***t
We use the ***t Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the ***t and continued up until another time in the ***t. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used with the ***t Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now.
EXAMPLES:
They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
James had been teaching at the University for more than a year before he left for Asia.
USE 2Cause of Something in the ***t
Using the ***t Perfect Continuous before another action in the ***t is a good way to show cause and effect.
EXAMPLES:
Jason was tired because he had been jogging.
Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
IMPORTANT
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday", many English speakers choose to use the ***t Continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.
EXAMPLES:
I was reading when my roommate returned. Emphasizes the interruption of "reading."
I had been readingfor an hour when my roommate returned. Emphasizes the amount of time "for an hour."
ACTIVE / ***SIVE FORMS***t Perfect Continuous
EXAMPLES:
Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years, before he moved to Paris. ACTIVE
The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris. ***SIVE
NOTE: ***sive forms of the ***t Perfect Continuous are not common.
I had studied a little English when I came to the U.S.
They had never met an American until they met John.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as ***t Perfect (had met), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had never met).
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in ***t
The ***t Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the ***t. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the ***t.
EXAMPLES:
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 1992?
Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1988.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the ***t (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-progressive Verbs and some non-progressive uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the ***t Perfect to show that something started in the ***t and continued up until another action in the ***t.
EXAMPLES:
We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the ***t Perfect
Unlike the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the ***t Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
If the ***t Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple ***t can be used instead of the ***t Perfect when before or after is used in the sentence. The words before and after actually tell you what happens first so the ***t Perfect is optional. Both sentences below are correct.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the ***t Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, ***t Perfect MUST be used at all times. Compare the two sentences below.
EXAMPLE:
She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
ACTIVE / ***SIVE FORMS***t Perfect
EXAMPLES
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanics license. ACTIVE
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanics license. ***SIVE
I was carefully picking up the snake when it bit me.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as ***t Continuous (was picking), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (was carefully picking).
IMPORTANT
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word when such as "...when she called " or "...when it bit me." Clauses with the ***t Continuous usually start with while. While expresses the idea "during the time." Study the examples below. They have the same meaning.
EXAMPLES:
I was studying when she called.
While I was studying, she called.
USE 1Interrupted Action in the ***t
Use the ***t Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the ***t was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple ***t. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
EXAMPLES:
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having a picnic, it started to rain.
Sally was working when Joe had the car accident.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the ***t Continuous is interrupted by an action in the Simple ***t. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
EXAMPLES:
Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple ***t a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the ***t Continuous a specific time only interrupts the action.
EXAMPLES:
Last night at 6 p.m., I ate dinner. (I started eating at 6 p.m.)
Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner. (I started earlier and at 6 p.m. I was in the process of eating dinner.)
USE 3Parallel Actions
When you use the ***t Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
EXAMPLES:
I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans and having a good time.
USE 4Atmosphere
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the ***t.
EXAMPLE:
When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
USE 5Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The ***t Continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the ***t. The concept is very similar to the expression used to but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly between "be" and "verb+ing."
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