English Mastery
Module 1 · Verb Tenses

Future Continuous

Intermediate–Advanced45 min25 questions7 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

The Future Continuous describes an action that will be in progress at a specific moment in the future — ‘kal is waqt’ thinking. Form: will be + verb-ing. It is also the politest way in English to ask about someone’s plans.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
Affirmative
Subject+will be+verb-ing
This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Mumbai.
Negative
Subject+will not (won’t) be+verb-ing
I won’t be using the car tomorrow.
Question
Will+subject+be+verb-ing?
Will you be coming to the office?

The golden rule: three fixed parts — will + be + verb-ing. The ‘be’ never changes (no ‘will is’, no ‘will are’), and it never disappears.

Three fixed parts
willnever changesbenever changes, never disappearsverb-ingthe -ing is compulsory++This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Mumbai.COMMON BREAKSIwillbe?workingbe is missingIwillisworkingbe never changesIwillbeworkthe -ing is missing
The be never changes (no ‘will is’, no ‘will are’) and it never disappears.
Step 2

When to Use It

in progressNOW10 A.M.PASTFUTURE
Use 1

Action in progress at a future moment

Picture a specific future time — the action will be running at that moment.
  • This time next week, we will be relaxing in Manali.
  • At 10 a.m. tomorrow, I will be showing the sample flat to a client.
  • Don’t call at 2 — she will be teaching.
Will you use the printer?requestWill you be using the printer?polite
Use 2

Polite questions about plans

Softer than ‘Will you...?’ — you’re asking about their schedule, not requesting.
  • Will you be using the printer this afternoon? (If not, I’d like to.)
  • Will you be attending the society meeting on Sunday?
  • Will you be passing by the bank? Could you drop this cheque?
as usualNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 3

Things that will happen in the natural course

Expected as part of routine — no special decision needed.
  • The team will be sending the weekly report as usual.
  • I will be seeing him at the expo anyway, so I’ll hand over the file.
waitingyou landNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 4

Two future actions — background + main

The longer background action takes Future Continuous.
  • While you are enjoying the party, I will be finishing this proposal.
  • When you land, I will be waiting outside Terminal 3.
A point or a stretch?
A POINT IN TIMESimple Futurewill + base verbthe callNOW5 P.M.PASTFUTUREI will call him at 5.(the call itself happens at 5)A STRETCH AROUND ITFuture Continuouswill be + verb-ingin progressNOW5 P.M.PASTFUTUREI will be calling him at 5.(the call is in progress at 5)
Simple Future names the action; Future Continuous puts you inside it at that moment.
Step 3

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
यह tense बताता है कि future के किसी ख़ास पल में कोई काम चल रहा होगा — ‘कर रहा होगा / रही होगी’।
कल इस समय मैं Mumbai जा रहा होऊँगा।
This time tomorrow, I will be travelling to Mumbai.
वह शाम को पढ़ रही होगी।
She will be studying in the evening.
Polite trick सीख लो: किसी के plan के बारे में पूछना हो तो ‘Will you be coming?’ ज़्यादा नरम और professional लगता है सीधे ‘Will you come?’ से। Business English में यह बहुत काम आता है।
Step 4

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
I will working on the report tonight.
I will be working on the report tonight.
‘Be’ cannot be dropped: will + be + -ing.
She will be cook dinner at 8.
She will be cooking dinner at 8.
The -ing is compulsory.
This time tomorrow, we fly to Goa.
This time tomorrow, we will be flying to Goa.
‘This time tomorrow’ = action in progress at a future moment Future Continuous.
Will you be come to the party?
Will you be coming to the party?
Be + coming, never be + base verb.
He will be knowing the result by then.
He will know the result by then.
Stative verbs refuse -ing in the future too.
At 9 pm I will be sleep.
At 9 p.m. I will be sleeping.
Sleep sleeping after ‘will be’.
Step 5

Signal Words

Signals for Future Continuous:
this time tomorrow / next week / next year
at 5 p.m. tomorrowat this moment on Sunday
while / when + another future action
Polite schedule questions: Will you be joining / using / needing...?
Step 6

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    This time next month, I (sit) in my new office.
  2. 2
    Don’t message him now — he (drive).
  3. 3
    you (use) the conference room at 3?
  4. 4
    At 6 a.m. tomorrow, the labourers (already/work) at the site.
  5. 5
    She (not/attend) tomorrow’s call; she is on leave.
  6. 6
    When you reach, I (wait) at the gate.
  7. 7
    Tomorrow evening we (celebrate) my son’s birthday.
  8. 8
    they (stay) with us during the wedding?
  9. 9
    By this time on Sunday, everyone (watch) the final.
  10. 10
    I (think) of you while you (give) your presentation. Best of luck!
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    I will be finish the design by tonight. (Meaning: in the middle of it at that time... actually meaning progress at 9 pm.)
  2. 12
    She will cooking when we arrive.
  3. 13
    Will you be help me tomorrow morning?
  4. 14
    This time next year, he studies in Canada.
  5. 15
    We will be to travel all night.
  6. 16
    They will being waiting for us at the dhaba.
  7. 17
    At 11 tomorrow I will be in a meeting sat. (progress meaning)
  8. 18
    He will be wanting tea when he wakes up.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    कल इस समय हम शिमला में घूम रहे होंगे।
  2. 20
    वह रात को नौ बजे खाना बना रही होगी।
  3. 21
    क्या आप कल मीटिंग में आ रहे होंगे?
  4. 22
    जब तुम पहुँचोगे, मैं बाहर इंतज़ार कर रहा होऊँगा।
  5. 23
    अगले हफ़्ते इस दिन बच्चे परीक्षा दे रहे होंगे।
  6. 24
    मैं कल गाड़ी इस्तेमाल नहीं कर रहा होऊँगा — तुम ले जा सकते हो।
  7. 25
    शाम को इस समय वे पूजा कर रहे होंगे।
Step 7

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
will be sitting
2
will be driving
3
Will ... be using
4
will already be working
5
will not (won’t) be attending
6
will be waiting
7
will be celebrating
8
Will ... be staying
9
will be watching
10
will be thinking ... are giving
Answers · Set B
11
I will be finishing the design tonight. (will be + -ing.)
12
She will be cooking when we arrive. (‘Be’ was missing.)
13
Will you be helping me tomorrow morning? (be + -ing.)
14
This time next year, he will be studying in Canada. (Future moment Future Continuous.)
15
We will be travelling all night. (No ‘to’; -ing needed.)
16
They will be waiting for us at the dhaba. (‘Being’ ‘be’.)
17
At 11 tomorrow I will be sitting in a meeting. (will be sitting.)
18
He will want tea when he wakes up. (‘Want’ is stative — simple future.)
Answers · Set C
19
This time tomorrow, we will be roaming around Shimla. / ...will be sightseeing in Shimla.
20
She will be cooking (dinner) at nine at night.
21
Will you be coming to the meeting tomorrow?
22
When you arrive, I will be waiting outside.
23
On this day next week, the children will be taking their exams.
24
I won’t be using the car tomorrow — you can take it.
25
At this time in the evening, they will be doing the puja.

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Next up · Chapter 13Future Perfect

‘tab tak ho chuka hoga’ — deadlines and completion: By December, we will have sold forty units.