Future Continuous
I'll be working tomorrow — actions in progress at a future time, polite questions, and formal announcements. Learn the form and uses, then practise.
Show rules
Form — will + be + -ing
| example | |
|---|---|
| positive | I 'll be working. · He 'll be waiting. · They 'll be watching TV. |
| negative | I won't be coming. · It won't be working. · We won't be leaving then. |
| question | Will you be waiting? · Will she be arriving tomorrow? · What will you be doing? |
Actions in progress at a future time
The main use — an action that will be in progress at, or around, a specific time in the future:
Come to the main door when you arrive at the theatre — we'll be waiting for you inside.
Don't phone me at the office tomorrow. I'll be working at home.
By this time next week, we'll be lying on a beach in Greece.
Common time markers: this time tomorrow, by next week, at six o'clock, during dinner, when you get there.
Don't use going to for this meaning:
❌ By this time next month I'm going to live in my new flat.
✅ By this time next month I'll be living in my new flat.
Future actions with possible results
Future continuous also describes a planned future action that makes another action possible or necessary:
I'll be seeing the doctor tomorrow — do you want me to ask her about your prescription?
I'll be meeting my friends after work, so I may be home late.
We'll be turning off the water supply between 6 and 8 am — please don't turn on your taps during this time.
Asking about plans — more polite
Future continuous can be used for less direct, more polite questions:
| form | example | feel |
|---|---|---|
| present continuous | Are you coming to the party? | direct — to a friend |
| future continuous | Will you be coming to the party? | polite — to your boss |
Compare: Are you going to stay the night? → polite: Will you be staying the night?
Saying "we can't" politely
Future continuous is also used in formal contexts to soften refusals:
| register | example |
|---|---|
| formal | Mr Jenkins is busy, so I'm afraid he won't be meeting us today. |
| informal | Sally's working, so she isn't coming to the party tonight. |
Future continuous vs will
| example | meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| will | I'll work from home tomorrow. | a single decision / commitment |
| future continuous | I'll be working from home tomorrow. | an action ongoing throughout the day |
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| By next month I'm going to live in my new flat. | By next month I'll be living in my new flat. |
| Don't disturb me — I'll watch the match tonight. | Don't disturb me — I'll be watching the match tonight. |
| Are you going to stay the night? (to a senior colleague) | Will you be staying the night? |
| I'll be work from home tomorrow. | I'll be working from home tomorrow. |
| Mr Jenkins doesn't meet us today. | Mr Jenkins won't be meeting us today. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you form the future continuous?
Use will + be + the -ing form of the verb. Positive: 'I'll be working.' Negative: 'I won't be coming.' Questions: 'Will you be waiting?', 'What will you be doing?' The contracted form 'll is normal in speech and informal writing.
When do you use future continuous instead of will?
Use the future continuous for an action that will be IN PROGRESS at a specific future time: 'Don't phone me tomorrow — I'll be working at home.' Use will for a single decision or commitment: 'I'll work harder next year.' The future continuous emphasises duration; will emphasises the action itself.
Why is 'I'm going to live in my new flat next month' wrong?
For an action in progress at a specific future time (the meaning the sentence wants), we use the future continuous, not going to: 'By this time next month I'll be living in my new flat.' Going to describes an intention or plan, not an ongoing state at a future moment.
How is the future continuous more polite?
Future continuous questions feel less direct than present continuous or going to: 'Will you be coming to the meeting?' is softer than 'Are you coming to the meeting?' It just asks neutrally what's planned, without putting pressure on the person — useful with senior colleagues, in formal contexts, or with people you don't know well.