Welcome to your Future Continuous & Future Perfect lesson! In this topic we talk about:
• When do we use the Future Continuous & Future Perfect?
• Other uses of the Future Continuous.
• Other uses of the Future Perfect.
Take the quizzes when you’re ready! If you’re having problems, use the comment box to contact our English Teachers.
When do we use the Future Continuous & Future Perfect?
Imagine you are standing in a queue to get into the cinema.
Present Continuous
Now, we are queueing to see a film.Future Continuous
One hour from now we will be watching the film.Future Perfect
Four hours from now the film will have finished.
More explanation
The Future Continuous means “In the middle of something”:
This time next week I’ll be on holiday. I‘ll be hiking and staying at a lovely cabin.
Don’t call me at five, I‘ll be working.
Compare the Future Continuous with the Future Simple:
Future Continuous
Come and visit at two, we‘ll be relaxing at home.Future Simple
Come and visit at two, then we‘ll relax at home.
Compare the Future Continuous with other continuous forms:
Past Continuous
At three yesterday, she was working.Present Continuous
It’s three, she is working.Future Continuous
At three tomorrow, she will be working.
Other uses of the Future Continuous
We also use the Future Continuous to talk about actions that will be completed in the future:
Will you be going away this weekend?
The singer is sick and won’t be performing tonight.
Later on the programme I‘ll be talking to Stephen Fry.
These examples are very similar to GOING TO + VERB.
Other uses of the Future Perfect
The Future Perfect is used to say that something will already be complete in the future:
The bus leaves at six pm, so at seven tonight the bus will already have left.
If we leave at two we’ll be late, the film will already have started.
Compare the Future Perfect with other perfect forms:
Present Perfect
We have been working here for twenty years.Future Perfect
Next year we will have been working here for twenty-one years.Past Perfect
Last year we had been working here for nineteen years.
Recap
- The Future Continuous means “In the middle of something”.
- It’s also used to talk about actions that will be completed in the future.
- The Future Perfect is used to say that something will already be complete in the future.
