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Future continuous and future perfect
B2 B2 grammar · lesson 2 of 21
This lesson shows you how to talk about actions in progress at a future time and actions that will be finished before a future time. These forms help you make plans and predictions more exact.
Future continuous: will be + -ing
Use the future continuous for an action that will be in progress at a certain time in the future. Imagine a photo of the future: what will people be doing in that photo?
| Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I will be working. | I won’t be working. | Will you be working? |
| She’ll be travelling. | She won’t be travelling. | Will she be travelling? |
We also use it for things that will happen as part of a normal plan or routine, and for polite questions about someone’s plans: Will you be using the car tonight?
This time tomorrow, I will be lying on a beach.
Don’t call at eight. We will be having dinner.
Will you be using your laptop this afternoon?
Omar won’t be coming to the meeting; he’s on holiday.
Future perfect: will have + past participle
Use the future perfect for an action that will be finished before a certain time in the future. It looks back from a future point.
| Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I will have finished. | I won’t have finished. | Will you have finished? |
| They’ll have left. | They won’t have left. | Will they have left? |
Time expressions with by are very common: by Friday, by then, by the time you arrive, by 2030.
By Friday, I will have finished the project.
The film starts at seven. By the time we get there, it will have started.
Next June, Leo and Mia will have been married for ten years.
Will you have read the book by our next class?
Common mistakes
✗ By next week I will finish the course. (when the meaning is ‘before next week’)
✓ By next week I will have finished the course.
✗ At 10 tomorrow I will work in the office.
✓ At 10 tomorrow I will be working in the office.
✗ By the time you arrive, I will have cook dinner.
✓ By the time you arrive, I will have cooked dinner.
Remember: after when, by the time, before, after we use a present tense, not will: By the time you arrive (not will arrive), I’ll have left.