What is the definition Structure of the Future Continuous Tense?, also called the Future Progressive Tense Formation, using Helping verb (will be/shall be).
In this article, you will learn how to make future continuous sentences in a simple and easy way.
Definition Of The Future Continuous Tense:
Future Continuous Tense, sometimes called the Future Progressive Tense, is a grammatical verb form in English used to describe future events that will continue.
What Is the Future Continuous Tense?
When discussing actions that will continue at a certain point in the future, the Future Continuous Tense is used. Unlike the simple future tense, which describes an action at a single moment in time, the future continuous tense indicates that the action will be ongoing.
The sentence “she will be travelling tomorrow” shows that the travel will continue at a certain point in the future. “ing” is used with the base form of the verb after “will be” and “shall be” to make this tense.
“Will be/shall be” shows that the action is going to happen in the future and will continue for some time.
Examples:
- “I will be studying tomorrow at 8 p.m.” This sentence indicates that future study will be happening at 8:00 PM.
This tense is often used in in several situations.
Future Plans:
- Discussing about an event that will be happening at a particular time in future. The future continuous makes future plans or activities more specific and helps establish a mood of ongoing action.
For example, “They will be going to Paris next week.”
Prevention of future Actions:
- It can also refer to an action that will be prevented by another future action.
For example, “I shall be waiting when Sidra arrive”.
Prediction of Ongoing Actions:
- When making predictions about what might happen on possible future events, such as, “This time tomorrow, he will be flying to New York”.
The sentences in these examples confirm that the actions are continuing in the future tense.
The Full Structure Of Future Continuous Tense
To indicate the future in affirmative, interrogative, and negative sentences, the first form of the verb is combined with the auxiliary verb (will be/shall be) to form the future continuous tense.
1. Assertive Sentence Structure of Future Continuous Tense
Future Continuous Tense Assertive sentences are used to express positive statements about the actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future. These sentences confirm that something will happen at a certain moment.
The future continuous tense structure of an affirmative sentence is given.
Positive Formula of Future Continuous Tense:
The future continuous tense formula for positive sentences is as follows.
Subject + (Helping Verb) will/shall + be + 1st form of verb + ing + Object
In the formation of affirmative sentences, understanding the affirmative formula of the future progressive tense will help you make correct sentences.
Note Points:
There are some important points for creating an aggressive sentence in future progressive tense;
- The “first form” of the verb is used after the helping verb with (ing).
- The auxiliary verb (will be/shall be) is used after the subject in this tense.
- “Shall” is used with pronouns (I, We), and “Will” is used with all singular plural nouns and pronouns like future indefinite tense.
- A full stop (.) is used at the end of a sentence to show a positive sentence in the future progressive tense.
Assertive Sentences Examples of Future Continuous Tense:
To form future continuous tense examples of aggressive sentence exercises are given below.
- He will be going to school.
(Subject: He, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: go, Add: ing, Object: to school)
- She will be drinking milk.
(Subject: She, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: drink, Add: ing, Object: milk)
- The doctor will be treating the patient.
(Subject: The doctor, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: treat, Add: ing, Object: the patient)
- They will be doing their duty.
(Subject: They, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: do, Add: ing, Object: their duty)
- He will be waiting for me.
(Subject: He, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: wait, Add: ing, Object: for me)
- They will be wearing new clothes.
(Subject: They, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: wear, Add: ing, Object: new clothes)
- They will be learning their lesson.
(Subject: They, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: learn, Add: ing, Object: their lesson)
- The peon will be ringing the bell.
(Subject: The peon, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: ring, Add: ing, Object: the bell)
- The sun will be shining in the morning.
(Subject: The sun, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: shine, Add: ing, Object: in the morning)
- I shall be sleeping in my room.
(Subject: I, Helping Verb: shall, Add: be, Main Verb: sleep, Add: ing, Object: in my room)
- We shall be praying to God.
(Subject: We, Helping Verb: shall, Add: be, Main Verb: pray, Add: ing, Object: to God)
- The boys will be making a noise.
(Subject: The boys, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: make, Add: ing, Object: a noise)
- It will be raining tomorrow.
(Subject: It, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: rain, Add: ing, Object: tomorrow)
- The dogs will be barking at the beggars.
(Subject: The dogs, Helping Verb: will, Add: be, Main Verb: bark, Add: ing, Object: at the beggars)
As you can see, the positive expressions in these sentences indicate that the actions will continue in the future.
2. Interrogative Sentence Structure of Future Continuous Tense
Future Continuous Tense Interrogative sentences are used to inquire about events that will be happening at a specific time in the future. These questions focus on whether a particular activity will continue at that future moment.
The purpose of using interrogative sentences in this tense is to inquire about the certainty or possibility of an ongoing action in the future.
The future continuous tense formation of an interrogative sentence is given.
Interrogative Formula of Future Continuous Tense:
The future continuous tense interrogative formula is as follows.
(Helping Verb) Will/Shall + Subject + be + 1st form of verb + ing + Object
In the formation of interrogative sentences, understanding the interrogative formula for the future progressive tense will help you construct correct sentences.
Note Points:
There are some important points to form an interrogative sentence in the future progressive tense;Â
- In interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verbs (shall be/will be) come before the subject to show the interrogative sentence.
- “The first form of the verb” is used with (ing) after the subject.
- A question mark (?) is placed at the end of a sentence to display the interrogative sentence in the future continuous.
- If interrogative words (what, where, who, how, etc.) occur in sentences, they are used at the beginning of the sentences before the helping verb (will/shall).
Interrogative Sentences Examples of Future Continuous Tense:
Some examples of exercises for interrogative sentences in the future continuous tense are;
- Will he be going to school?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: he, Add: be, Main Verb: go, Add: ing, Object: to school)
- Will she be drinking milk?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: she, Add: be, Main Verb: drink, Add: ing, Object: milk)
- Will the doctor be treating the patient?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: the doctor, Add: be, Main Verb: treat, Add: ing, Object: the patient)
- Will they be doing their duty?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: they, Add: be, Main Verb: do, Add: ing, Object: their duty)
- Will he be waiting for me?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: he, Add: be, Main Verb: wait, Add: ing, Object: for me)
- Will they be wearing new clothes?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: they, Add: be, Main Verb: wear, Add: ing, Object: new clothes)
- Will they be learning their lesson?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: they, Add: be, Main Verb: learn, Add: ing, Object: their lesson)
- Will the peon be ringing the bell?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: the peon, Add: be, Main Verb: ring, Add: ing, Object: the bell)
- Will the sun be shining in the morning?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: the sun, Add: be, Main Verb: shine, Add: ing, Object: in the morning)
- Shall I be sleeping in my room?
(Helping Verb: Shall, Subject: I, Add: be, Main Verb: sleep, Add: ing, Object: in my room)
- Shall we be praying to God?
(Helping Verb: Shall, Subject: we, Add: be, Main Verb: pray, Add: ing, Object: to God)
- Will the boys be making a noise?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: the boys, Add: be, Main Verb: make, Add: ing, Object: a noise)
- Will it be raining tomorrow?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: it, Add: be, Main Verb: rain, Add: ing, Object: tomorrow)
- Will the dogs be barking at the beggars?
(Helping Verb: Will, Subject: the dogs, Add: be, Main Verb: bark, Add: ing, Object: at the beggars)
These sentences show the use of interrogative statements to find out details about upcoming events or situations.
3. Negative Sentence Structure of Future Continuous Tense
The Future Continuous Tense Negative sentences are used to indicate that an action will not be happening at a certain time in the future. These sentences suggest that a specific activity will not be performed at this time in the future.
To make a sentence into a negative, just add “not” between “will/shall” and “be.”
The formation of future continuous tense for a negative sentence is given.
Negative Formula of Future Continuous Tense:
Future continuous tense negative formula is the following;
Subject + (Helping Verb) will/shall + not + be + 1st form of verb + Object
Understanding the negative formula of the future progressive tense will help you create appropriate negative sentences.
Note Points:
There are some important points to form a negative sentence in the future progressive tense;Â
- In negative sentences, the helping verb (will be/shall be) comes after the subject.
- “First form of the verb” is used in negative such as affirmative and interrogative sentences in the future progressive.
- The word “not” is added after the auxiliary verb (will/shall) to show a negative sentence in this future tense.
- A full stop (.) is placed at the end of a sentence such as a positive sentence in the future progressive tense.
Negative Sentences Examples of Future Continuous Tense:
Here are some examples of exercises for negative sentences in the future progressive tense;
- He will not be going to school.
(Subject: He, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: go, Add: ing, Object: to school)
- She will not be drinking milk.
(Subject: She, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: drink, Add: ing, Object: milk)
- The doctor will not be treating the patient.
(Subject: The doctor, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: treat, Add: ing, Object: the patient)
- They will not be doing their duty.
(Subject: They, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: do, Add: ing, Object: their duty)
- He will not be waiting for me.
(Subject: He, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: wait, Add: ing, Object: for me)
- They will not be wearing new clothes.
(Subject: They, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: wear, Add: ing, Object: new clothes)
- They will not be learning their lesson.
(Subject: They, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: learn, Add: ing, Object: their lesson)
- The peon will not be ringing the bell.
(Subject: The peon, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: ring, Add: ing, Object: the bell)
- The sun will not be shining in the morning.
(Subject: The sun, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: shine, Add: ing, Object: in the morning)
- I shall not be sleeping in my room.
(Subject: I, Helping Verb: shall, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: sleep, Add: ing, Object: in my room)
- We shall not be praying to God.
(Subject: We, Helping Verb: shall, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: pray, Add: ing, Object: to God)
- The boys will not be making a noise.
(Subject: The boys, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: make, Add: ing, Object: a noise)
- It will not be raining tomorrow.
(Subject: It, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: rain, Add: ing, Object: tomorrow)
- The dogs will not be barking at the beggars.
(Subject: The dogs, Helping Verb: will, Negative: not, Add: be, Main Verb: bark, Add: ing, Object: at the beggars)
These sentences express denial or negation of future continuing actions or events.
Conclusion:
Gaining confidence when discussing future activities in English, understanding the structure of the future continuous tense is necessary. In English grammar, understanding how to use the future progressive tense can help you talk about ongoing actions at specific future times.