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Formation and usage of the Future Continuous tense.
The Future Continuous describes an action or situation that will be in progress at a particular time in the future.
It focuses on the activity as ongoing at a future reference point rather than simply stating that it will happen.
At ten tomorrow morning, I will be flying to London.
Завтра в десять утра я буду лететь в Лондон.
Action in progress at a future time.
This time next week, we will be relaxing on the beach.
В это время на следующей неделе мы будем отдыхать на пляже.
Expected future activity.
When you arrive, I will be cooking dinner.
Когда ты придёшь, я буду готовить ужин.
Background action to a future event.
The Future Continuous is formed with will be followed by the present participle of the main verb.
The basic structure is subject + will be + verb-ing. For example, I will be working and They will be travelling.
I will be working.
Я буду работать.
will be + verb-ing.
They will be travelling.
Они будут путешествовать.
will be + verb-ing.
She will be studying.
Она будет учиться.
will be + verb-ing.
Affirmative Future Continuous sentences use will be followed by the -ing form of the main verb.
For example, She will be studying at eight and We will be travelling tomorrow afternoon.
She will be studying at eight.
В восемь она будет заниматься.
Affirmative: will be + -ing.
We will be travelling tomorrow afternoon.
Завтра днём мы будем путешествовать.
Affirmative.
He will be working late tonight.
Сегодня вечером он будет работать допоздна.
Affirmative.
Form negative Future Continuous sentences by adding not after will.
For example, I will not be working tomorrow evening and They will not be staying with us.
I will not be working tomorrow evening.
Завтра вечером я не буду работать.
Negative: will not be + -ing.
They will not be staying with us.
Они не будут останавливаться у нас.
Negative.
She won't be attending the meeting.
Она не будет присутствовать на встрече.
Won't be + -ing.
Form Future Continuous questions by placing will before the subject.
For example, Will you be working tomorrow? and What will she be doing at six?
Will you be working tomorrow?
Ты будешь работать завтра?
Yes/no question.
What will she be doing at six?
Что она будет делать в шесть?
Wh-question.
Will they be travelling next week?
Они будут путешествовать на следующей неделе?
Yes/no question.
Short answers to Future Continuous questions normally use will or will not.
For example, Yes, I will. No, she will not.
Will you be working? — Yes, I will.
Ты будешь работать? — Да.
Short answer.
Will she be staying? — No, she won't.
Она останется? — Нет.
Negative short answer.
Will they be coming? — Yes, they will.
Они придут? — Да.
Short answer.
Use the Future Continuous for an action that will be happening at a particular time in the future.
For example, At ten tomorrow morning, I will be flying to London.
At ten tomorrow morning, I will be flying to London.
Завтра в десять утра я буду лететь в Лондон.
Action in progress at a specific future time.
At this time next week, we will be driving to the coast.
В это время на следующей неделе мы будем ехать к побережью.
Future reference point.
At nine tonight, she will be taking the exam.
Сегодня в девять она будет сдавать экзамен.
Specific future time.
The Future Continuous can describe an activity that will form the background to another future event.
For example, When you arrive, I will be cooking dinner.
When you arrive, I will be cooking dinner.
Когда ты придёшь, я буду готовить ужин.
Background action to a future event.
When she calls, we will be having lunch.
Когда она позвонит, мы будем обедать.
Background.
By the time you get home, the children will be sleeping.
К тому времени как ты доберёшься домой, дети будут спать.
Background to a future point.
The Future Continuous can describe an activity that is expected to be happening as part of the normal course of events.
For example, This time tomorrow, we will be relaxing on the beach.
This time tomorrow, we will be relaxing on the beach.
В это время завтра мы будем отдыхать на пляже.
Expected activity.
Next week at this time, I will be sitting in my new office.
На следующей неделе в это время я буду сидеть в своём новом офисе.
Expected future activity.
This evening, they will be watching the match.
Сегодня вечером они будут смотреть матч.
Expected.
The Future Continuous can make questions about someone’s future plans sound more neutral or less direct.
For example, Will you be using the car this evening? can be more neutral than Will you use the car this evening?
Will you be using the car this evening?
Ты будешь пользоваться машиной сегодня вечером?
Polite, neutral question.
Will you be needing this chair?
Вам понадобится этот стул?
Less direct than "Will you need this chair?"
Will she be attending the meeting?
Она будет присутствовать на встрече?
Polite inquiry.
The Future Continuous can express an assumption about what someone will be doing at a particular future time.
For example, Don’t call her at eight; she will probably be having dinner.
Don't call her at eight; she will probably be having dinner.
Не звони ей в восемь; она, вероятно, будет ужинать.
Assumption.
He will be travelling by now, so you can't reach him.
Он сейчас, вероятно, уже в пути, так что ты не сможешь с ним связаться.
Assumption about present/future.
They will probably be waiting for us at the station.
Они, вероятно, будут ждать нас на станции.
Assumption.
The Future Continuous can describe two or more activities that will be happening at the same time.
For example, While you are travelling, I will be looking after the house.
While you are travelling, I will be looking after the house.
Пока ты будешь путешествовать, я буду присматривать за домом.
Two simultaneous activities.
While she is cooking, he will be setting the table.
Пока она будет готовить, он будет накрывать на стол.
Parallel future actions.
I will be working while the children are at school.
Я буду работать, пока дети в школе.
Simultaneous activities.
The Future Continuous commonly occurs with expressions that identify a future reference point.
Common expressions include this time tomorrow, at six tomorrow, next week at this time, and all evening tomorrow.
This time tomorrow, I will be taking the test.
Завтра в это время я буду сдавать тест.
This time tomorrow.
At six tomorrow, she will be working out.
Завтра в шесть она будет тренироваться.
At six tomorrow.
All evening tomorrow, we will be preparing for the presentation.
Завтра весь вечер мы будем готовиться к презентации.
All evening tomorrow.
The Future Simple often presents a future event as a fact, decision, prediction, or promise, while the Future Continuous presents an activity as being in progress.
Compare I will work tomorrow with I will be working at ten tomorrow.
I will work tomorrow.
Я буду работать завтра.
Future Simple: simple fact.
I will be working at ten tomorrow.
Завтра в десять я буду работать.
Future Continuous: activity in progress.
She will arrive at six.
Она приедет в шесть.
Future Simple: event.
At six, she will be arriving at the airport.
В шесть она будет прибывать в аэропорт.
Future Continuous: action in progress.
The Present Continuous can describe a future arrangement, while the Future Continuous describes an activity that will be in progress at a future time.
Compare I am meeting John at six with I will be meeting John at six.
I am meeting John at six.
Я встречаюсь с Джоном в шесть.
Present Continuous: fixed arrangement.
I will be meeting John at six.
Я буду встречаться с Джоном в шесть.
Future Continuous: activity in progress, perhaps less fixed.
We are flying to Paris tomorrow.
Завтра мы летим в Париж.
Present Continuous arrangement.
This time tomorrow, we will be flying to Paris.
Завтра в это время мы будем лететь в Париж.
Future Continuous: in progress.
Be going to usually emphasizes an intention or prediction, while the Future Continuous emphasizes an activity that will be in progress.
Compare I am going to study tonight with I will be studying at eight tonight.
I am going to study tonight.
Я собираюсь заниматься сегодня вечером.
Be going to: intention.
I will be studying at eight tonight.
Сегодня в восемь я буду заниматься.
Future Continuous: in progress.
They are going to build a house.
Они собираются строить дом.
Intention.
Next year, they will be building their house.
В следующем году они будут строить свой дом.
Future Continuous: activity in progress over a period.
The Future Continuous describes an activity in progress at a future time, while the Future Perfect describes an action completed before a future point.
Compare At six I will be working with By six I will have finished the report.
At six I will be working.
В шесть я буду работать.
Future Continuous: in progress.
By six I will have finished the report.
К шести я закончу отчёт.
Future Perfect: completed before a future point.
At nine, she will be taking the exam.
В девять она будет сдавать экзамен.
In progress at a time.
By nine, she will have finished the exam.
К девяти она закончит экзамен.
Completed by a time.
When and while clauses can establish the future time during which an activity will be in progress.
For example, When you arrive, I will be waiting outside and While you are studying, I will be working.
When you arrive, I will be waiting outside.
Когда ты придёшь, я буду ждать снаружи.
When + Future Continuous.
While you are studying, I will be working.
Пока ты будешь учиться, я буду работать.
While + two continuous actions.
When she calls, we will be having dinner.
Когда она позвонит, мы будем ужинать.
When clause.
The Future Continuous is useful when the precise activity at a future moment is more important than the event itself.
It is particularly useful for describing schedules, travel, work, routines, and expected activities.
Tomorrow afternoon, we will be interviewing candidates.
Завтра днём мы будем проводить собеседования с кандидатами.
Work schedule.
During the flight, the crew will be serving refreshments.
Во время полёта экипаж будет подавать напитки.
Travel routine.
This time next month, I will be working at the new branch.
В это время в следующем месяце я буду работать в новом филиале.
Routine expected activity.
Use will be followed by the correct -ing form and use the tense when the activity is viewed as ongoing at a future reference point.
Common mistakes include omitting be, using the base form after will be, confusing the Future Continuous with the Future Perfect, and using the tense when only a simple future event is intended.
I will working at ten.
В десять я буду работать.
Incorrect: need "be": "will be working".
She will be work tomorrow.
Завтра она будет работать.
Incorrect: need -ing form: "will be working".
They will be finish by six.
Они закончат к шести.
Incorrect: for completion by a time, use Future Perfect "will have finished", not Future Continuous.
Will you be come to the party?
Ты придёшь на вечеринку?
Incorrect: after will be, use -ing form "coming"; but for simple future, use "Will you come?".
I will be knowing the results tomorrow.
Завтра я узнаю результаты.
Incorrect: stative verb "know" not used in continuous; use "will know".