FUTURE CONTINUOUS

Future continuous, form

The future continuous is made up of two elements: the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)

Subject	simple future, 'to be'	base+ing
You	will be	watching

Affirmative
I will be asking
Negative
She won't be leaving
Interrogative
Will they be retiring?
Interrogative negative
Won't we be staying?

Example: to stay, future continuous

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I will be staying	I won't be staying	Will I be staying?
You will be staying	You won't be staying	Will you be staying?
He, she, it will be staying	He won't be staying	Will she be staying?
We will be staying	We won't be staying	Will we be staying?
You will be staying	You won't be staying	Will you be staying?
They will be staying	They won't be staying	Will they be staying?

Future continuous, function

The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. It is used:
To project ourselves into the future and see something happening:

• This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.

To refer to actions/events that will happen in the normal course of events:

• I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.

In the interrogative form, especially with 'you', to distinguish between a simple request for information and an invitation:

• Will you be coming to the party tonight? (= request for information)
  Will you come to the party? (= invitation)

To predict or guess about someone's actions or feelings, now or in the future:

• You'll be feeling tired after that long walk, I expect.

Events in progress in the future:

• When you are in Australia will you be staying with friends?
• This time next week you will be working in your new job.
• At four thirty on Tuesday afternoon I will be signing the contract.

Events/actions in normal course of events:

• I'll be going into town this afternoon, is there anything you want from the shops?
• Will you be using the car tomorrow? - No, you can take it.
• I'll be seeing Jane this evening - I'll give her the message.

Asking for information:

• Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
• Will Jim be coming with us?

Predicting or guessing:

• You'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
• He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
• You'll be missing the sunshine now you're back in England.