Uses of the Future Progressive

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 Uses of the Future Progressive

1. To emphasize an action that will be in progress at a specific time in

the future.

a. She will be flying to Paris next week.

b. He will not be visiting his parents at Christmas.
c. You are not going to be driving that car tonight!
d. This evening, I am going to be walking my dogs in the park.
 Uses of the Future Progressive

2. To indicate that an action in progress in the future will be interrupted

by a shorter action.
This can be a real interruption or an interruption in time.

Real interruption
a. I will be cooking dinner when she arrives tonight.
b. Who will be picking you up when the meeting ends?
c. He is not going to be sitting around when you leave.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under

d. She will be shopping when you come. CC BY-NC

 Uses of the Future Progressive

Interruption in Time

a. At noon today, we will be recording a new song.

(We will start recording before noon and will continue after that).

b. They will be interviewing the finalists for the position at 3 p.m.

(They will start before three and continue thereafter.)
 Uses of the Future Progressive

3. To indicate that two or more actions will be in progress at the same

time / period - parallel or consecutive actions.

a. I am going to be doing the dishes, and

you are going to be cleaning the backyard.

b. They will be shopping on Sixth Avenue, dining at the Ritz Hotel, and
attending the President’s Ball.
 Uses of the Future Progressive

4. To describe the atmosphere at a specific point in the future.

a. When Pam arrives at the office, Cynthia will be gossiping with

Maria at her desk, and Sophia will be brushing her hair and polishing
her nails.
b. When they cross the border, the migrants will be rejoicing. Some
will be hugging their friends. Others are going to be singing and
dancing.
 Uses of the Future Progressive
5.The future progressive is not used in time clauses, i.e. clauses beginning with time
expressions: when, before, after, until, while, as, unless, by the time, as soon as, and
if.

Incorrect: By the time I will be coming home, she will be reading her book.
Correct: By the time I come home, she will be reading her book.
Incorrect: While I am going to be cleaning the backyard, Thelma is going to be
doing the laundry.
Correct: While I am cleaning the backyard, Thelma is going to be doing the
laundry.
 
The simple present tense is commonly used in time clauses. The present continuous
may be used with while.
 Uses of the Future Progressive
6. Do not use the future progressive
with stative or non action verbs.
Use the simple future instead.
Incorrect: He will be knowing about the
project when we meet.
Correct: He will know about the
project when we meet.
Incorrect: She is going to be being a
student at HCC.
 
Correct: She is going to be a
student at HCC.
Incorrect: They are going to be
believing everything he says.
Correct: They are going to believe
everything he says.
Incorrect: The food will be tasting
delicious!
 Correct: The food will taste
delicious!
 Uses of the Future Progressive

7. Adverbs such as never, only, always, still, sometimes, and probably may be
used with the future progressive.
 
In positive statements, place the adverb after “will” or a form of “be” + going
to be.
 
a. She will always be playing in the team.
b. You are still going to be living in the same
house next year.
c. They will only be working three days a week.
 Uses of the Future Progressive

In negative statements, place the adverb after “not” (for most adverbs)
and before “not” with “sometimes”, “probably”, and “still”.

a. She will not always be playing in the team.

b. You are still not going to be living in the same house next year.
c. They will not only be working three days a week.
d. He will sometimes not be visiting alone.
e. They are not just going to be advertising their products.
f. He is probably not going to be seeing her anymore.
 Uses of the Future Progressive

8. To ask polite questions about somebody’s plans, use the future

progressive.

a. Will you be coming for dinner tonight?

b. Are you going to be visiting your parents
at Christmas?
c. Will you be recording the show on TV?
d. Are you going to be working next summer?