Idioma extranjero VII

Session 2 Future Progressive saber hacer para competir

Objective
By the end of the lesson you will be able to know the use of future progressive (continuous) tense,
ask and answer questions in and express ideas concerning activities taking place at a specific time in
the future. You should be able to understand and differentiate the use of Auxiliaries and Modal verbs.

You should be able to express yourself appropriately by using these future progressive sentences.

Introduction
Diplomatic situations are those in which a language user is meant to communicate and understand
formal language that is usually used in business scenarios. A certain degree of polite expressions is
required to express thoughts and ideas while having contact with international speakers, ideas must
flow through the correct channels.

The future continuous tense is most often used for actions happening at some time in the future. It is
usually formed by positioning the -ing verb form directly in front of modal WILL + be. For example:

1. I will be attending a class.

2. Nicholas will be working all night long.

3. We usually use the Future Continuous to talk about activities that will last for some time in
the future.

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Session 2 Future Progressive saber hacer para competir

2.1 Future Progressive

The future progressive tense (also called continuous) is most often used for actions happening at
some time in the future.

It is usually formed by positioning the -ing verb form directly in front of modal WILL + be.

For example:

Future progressive tense is used for an action that will occur in the future.

Examples of the future progressive tense (underlined):

- Our class will be participating in the festival for the next 3 weeks.

- They will be working a lot if it works.

Negative:

- Our class will not be participating in the festival for the next 3 weeks.

- We will not be celebrating like Kings if it fails.

Question:

Will our class be participating in the festival for the next 3 weeks?

Will we be celebrating like Kings if it works?

2.1.1 Structure of sentence

Structure of the Future Progressive (continuous) Tense

The future progressive tense is formed:

Will be + [verb] + ing (singular and plural)

A verb that ends ing is present participle. It is formed like this:

VERB + ing to most verbs:

play - playing

work -working

Verbs that end e, remove the e and add ing:

ride - riding

prepare - preparing

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Idioma extranjero VII
Session 2 Future Progressive saber hacer para competir

For verbs written (consonant-vowel-consonant) double the final consonant and add ing:

run - running

forget - forgetting

2.1.2 Interrogative
Structure of questions:

‘wh’ questions are formed:

WH + subject + be + verb (ing)

For example: I start work at 9 am and finish at 5 pm so if someone asks me, “What will you be doing
at 10 am on Monday?” I can answer, “I will be working at 10 am on Monday”. That action (working)
will have started before that time and will finish much later.

Q: What will you be doing at 9pm tomorrow?

A: I will be working.

Q: What will you be doing on Sunday morning?

A: I will be sleeping.

Q:What will you be doing at this time in 5 years?

A: I will be working.

Examples of questions:

What will she be doing?

Where will she be working?
How will you be travelling?
What will she be eating?
Why will we be working?
When will it be raining?
What will they be wearing?

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Idioma extranjero VII
Session 2 Future Progressive saber hacer para competir

2.1.3 Negative Form

For negative sentences in the future continuous tense, we insert not between will and be.

For spoken negative sentences in the future continuous tense, we contract with won’t, like this:

I will not I won’t

you will not you won’t
he will not he won’t
she will not she won’t
it will not it won’t
we will not we won’t
they will not they won’t

2.1.4 Uses
The Future Continuous Tense is used to describe an activity that will occur in the future and continue
for a certain period of time. We can specify the time:

Examples:

1. Josh will be preparing the class next month.

2. She’ll be shopping all day.
3. We’ll be working at the office tonight.
4. We’ll be flying over the Atlantic Ocean for three hours.
5. We will be dancing at the party at 11 p.m.

The Future Continuous can also be used to talk about an activity that will continue over a period of
time:

Examples:

1. We’ll be studying until 10 o’clock.

2. She’ll be working until she finishes.

We also use Future Continuous tense to show than an action in the future will be interrupted by
another action in the future:

Examples:

1. I’ll be painting the house when she arrives tonight.

2. She’ll be doing homework when her parents come home.

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Session 2 Future Progressive saber hacer para competir

We can also use the Future Continuous to project into the future:

Examples:

1. I’ll recognize her when I get there. She’ll be wearing jeans and a white-shirt.
2. This time tomorrow, I’ll be flying home.

The Future Continuous is used to talk about what we believe or guess is happening at the moment of
speaking:

Examples:

1. He must be busy; he’ll be doing his homework.

2. I don’t want to disturb them. I’m sure they’ll be cleaning their house at the moment.

We can also use the Future Continuous to talk about things expected to happen:
Examples:

1. I will be seeing Pepe tomorrow at school. (we study together)

2. We will be meeting Mike at the festival this weekend.
2.2 Common Time expressions with future continuous

There are several Time expressions that can be used with future progressive (continuous)

Examples

It is used to talk about future events that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. We often
use this structure to make a contrast between a present event and a future event.

• This time tomorrow I will be lying on the beach.

• This time tomorrow I will be celebrating my birthday.

This is not just a simple statement about what you will be doing tomorrow. It also expresses how
happy you are about a future moment.

We can use the future continuous tense to talk about normal moments too.

• This time next week I will be taking my exam.

• This time tomorrow I will be waiting at the doctor’s office.

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Idioma extranjero VII
Session 2 Future Progressive saber hacer para competir

Conclusión
Future continuous tense uses the base form of the verb with ‘ing’. It is an important tense
used to express action at a particular moment in the future. The action may also be used to
predict something that is expected to take place.

You may use it in both formal and informal situations of everyday life.

Glossary
Auxiliary verb- verbal auxiliary.

Available- ready to be used, in disposition.

Bitter- causing painful emotions: felt or experienced in a strong and unpleasant way.

Blow- to be in motion <a breeze blew gently>(2): to move with speed or force <the wind was
blowing>.

Ceiling- the inside surface at the top of a room.

Climb- to go up mountains, cliffs, etc., as a sport.

Cope- to face, deal with.

Hill- a usually rounded area of land that is higher than the land around it but that is not as high as a
mountain.

integral- complete and autonomous.

Stormy- relating to, characterized by, or indicative of a storm (heavy rain)<a stormy day><a stormy
autumn>.
Supper- a light meal or snack that is eaten late in the evening.

Bibliographic references
Murphy, R. (1985). English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Merriam-webster.com, (2014). Disastrous - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster
Dictionary. [online] Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disastrous

Fuchs, M. (2009). Longman Focus on Grammar 3 - 3rd EditionAn Integrated Skill Approach. United
States: Pearson Longman

Mc Carthy, M. (2008). Touchstone 2 Full Contact. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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