Future Progressive

Image
  • File photo | Credit WritingExplained

What is Future Progressive Tense?

The future progressive tense is a verb tense which is used to express action that will be continuously in progress at some time in the future.

We use this verb tense to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future. Adverbs or adverbial phrases like tomorrow morning, and this time tomorrow, etc. are often used with this verb tense.

See practical examples:
  • Andy will be meeting his prospective clients tomorrow morning.
  • I’ll be presenting a model for the software program this time tomorrow.
  • Gift will be cooking dinner when I get home tonight.

How to Make Use of the Future Progressive Tense

In future progressive tense, actions that will happen over time in the future are expressed using “will” or “be going to”. However, shall may be used with “I” or “we”, but “will/be going to” is used many times more.

I.   Expression of Affirmative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘will’

To use ‘will’ in making affirmative statements of future progressive tense, the structure: will + be + ...ing form of verb is used.

Examples include:
  • Geoffrey will be eating lunch at McDonald by this time tomorrow.
  • Laurel and Kyle will be coming home on Friday when they have their semester holiday.
  • This time Saturday, I’ll be skydiving on the Grand Cayman beach.

II.   Expression of Negative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘will’

To use ‘will’ in making negative statements of future progressive tense, the structure: will not + be + verb–ing form is used; however, contraction form ‘won’t’ of “will not” is used in some cases.

Examples include:
  • Geoffrey did not go to work today so he won’t be eating lunch at McDonald this afternoon.
  • Laurel and Kyle will not be coming home on Friday because they have their holiday postponed.
  • Because I have urgent tasks to tend, this time Saturday I won’t be skydiving on the Grand Cayman beach.

III.   Expression of Interrogative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘will’

To use ‘will’ in making interrogative statement of future progressive tense, the structure: (interrogative word) + will + subject + be + verb–ing form is used:

Examples include:
  • Will Geoffrey be eating lunch at McDonald this afternoon?
  • When will Laurel and Kyle be coming home for Xmas holiday?
  • Which car will you be driving to church on Sunday?

IV.   Expression of Negative Interrogative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘will’

To use ‘will’ in making negative interrogative statement of future progressive tense, the structure: (interrogative word) + will not + subject + be + verb–ing form is used; however, contraction form ‘won’t’ of “will not” is used in some cases.

Examples include:
  • Won’t Geoffrey be eating lunch at McDonald this afternoon?
  • Won’t Laurel and Kyle be coming home for Xmas holiday?
  • Your car is still unrepaired, won’t you be driving to church on Sunday?
Note that the Interrogatives are rarely used in formal contexts. Chances are you will seldom have needs to use interrogatives.

How to use “be going to” in future progressive tense.

I.   Expression of Affirmative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘be going to’.

To use ‘be going to’ in making affirmative statement of future progressive tense, use any of the be verb i.e., am/is/are, as in the structure: am/is/are going to + be + ...ing form of verb.

Examples include:
  • Geoffrey is going to be eating lunch at McDonald by this time tomorrow.
  • Laurel and Kyle are going to be coming home for their semester holiday on Friday.
  • This time Saturday I’m going to be skydiving on the Grand Cayman beach.

II.   Expression of Negative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘be going to’.

To use ‘be going to’ in making negative statements of future progressive tense, use any of the be verb i.e., am/is/are, as in the structure: am/is/are not going to + be + ...ing form of verb.

Examples include:
  • Geoffrey is not going to be eating lunch at McDonald this time tomorrow.
  • Laurel and Kyle are not going to be coming home for their semester holiday on Friday.
  • This time Saturday I’m not going to be skydiving on the Grand Cayman beach.

III.   Expression of Interrogative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘be going to’.

To use ‘be going to’ in making interrogative statements of future progressive tense, use any of the be verb i.e., am/is/are, as in the structure: (interrogative word) + am/is/are + subject + going to + ...ing form of verb.

Examples include:
  • Is Geoffrey going to be eating lunch at McDonald today?
  • Are Laurel and Kyle going to be coming home for their semester holiday on Friday?
  • Now that my family is not here I’m I going to be driving all alone to church on Sunday?

IV.   Expression of Negative Interrogative Statements with Future Progressive Tense, Using ‘be going to’.

To use ‘be going to’ in making negative interrogative statements of future progressive tense, use any of the be verb i.e., am/is/are, as in the structure: (interrogative word) + am/is/are + subject + not going to + ...ing form of verb.

Examples include:
  • Why is Geoffrey not going to be eating lunch at McDonald today?
  • Are Laurel and Kyle not going to be coming home for their semester holiday on Friday?
  • Now that my family is not here. I’m I not going to be driving alone to church on Sunday?
Note that the Interrogatives are rarely used in formal contexts. Chances are you will seldom have needs to use interrogatives.
  • Share

Trending Collections

Recommended Books to Flex Your Knowledge