In this next lesson in the FUTURE TENSES series, we look at Future Continuous and Future Perfect Simple and Continuous. These are a little more advanced than the basic future tenses, and if you haven't already seen that lesson, you can do so here (Basic Future Tenses).
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
FORM:
FUNCTION:
1. Actions in progress at a specific point in the future
At 5:30pm, I will be cooking dinner.
We typically use the Future Continuous to talk about an action in progress at a specific point or time in the future. The timeline below demonstrates this clearly. We can see that the 'cooking' starts in the future (but before 5.30) and ends in the future (but after 5.30).
This is commonly used in conversation when talking about future plans and intentions, specifically when asking if someone is free or busy, probably because someone wants to arrange a plan with you. For example:
A: There's a spin class at 5.20 today. Do you want to go? B: Sorry, I can't. I'll be cooking dinner at 5.30. Maybe next time.
We can add 'still' to say that the action started before now, and will be continuing at the specific point.
At 5.30, I will still be cooking dinner.
On a timeline, it looks like this.
In this function, the Future Continuous is used with a time phrase to give context. Common time phrases include:
AT + TIME
At 8, I'll be driving to work.
IN + YEAR/MONTH
In 2070, we will be living on Mars.
ON + DAY
On Tuesday, I'll be working from home.
TIME TIME + NEXT YEAR/MONTH/DAY/TOMORROW
This time next Friday, I will be travelling to Melbourne.
2. Actions that will happen in the normal course of events – not because they were planned
I will be passing your house on the way to Melbourne. Can I call in for a visit?
You will be reading this book as part of your university course in the next semester.
As part of this exercise, you will be jumping out of the plane at 10,000 feet.
Here, the time phrase is an event which takes a longer period of time (i.e. driving to Melbourne, studying for a semester etc.), and during that time, another action will be in progress. This second action is a much shorter action. This second action is not a plan or intention (like in the previous function), but is a natural part of the event taking place.
3. Polite questions about future intentions
Who will you be bringing as your plus one to my wedding?
Will you be travelling here by plane or by car?
We can use the Future Continuous to ask questions about someone's future intentions or plans in a polite way. In a more casual situation, these questions could be asked using Present Continuous, which is typically used to talk about future arrangements. Compare:
Will you be joining us for refreshments this evening? (= very polite and formal)
Are you having drinks with us later? (= casual and informal)
FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS
FORM:
FUNCTION (FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE):
By 5pm, I will have read all of my emails.
We use the Future Perfect Simple to talk about short future actions that happen and are completed before another time in the future. In this example here, I have several emails to read today, and all of them will be read no later than 5pm (i.e. anytime before 5pm). You can see this on the timeline below:
FUNCTION (FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS):
By 5pm, I will have been reading my emails for an hour.
The Future Perfect Continuous is used to talk about longer future actions that happen and are completed before another time in the future. Similarly, these longer actions are finished no later than a specific time in the future (the time phrase in the sentence).
The decision to use either the Future Perfect Simple and Future Perfect Continuous is similar to the differences between using Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous. For more details on this, make sure to check out that lesson.
The Future Perfect tense (both simple and continuous) are typically used with a 'by + time phrase'. The BY in the 'by time phrase' has the meaning of 'finished no later than + time phrase'. As the Future Perfect tense talks about completed actions in the future, then naturally it is used with a time phrase that shows the same or similar meaning. Some common 'by time phrases' include:
BY + TIME
By 8.30, I will have driven to work.
BY + YEAR/MONTH
By 2070, we will have been living on Mars for five years.
BY + DAY
By Wednesday, I will have worked from home at least once.
BY + THIS TIME + NEAR YEAR/MONTH/DAY/TOMORROW
By this time next Saturday, I will have travelled to Melbourne.
Final Points
Functionally, we don't really use this tense very often in day-to-day life. When we do use it, they may appear like the following:
We are 30 minutes late. I'm sure he will have left by now. (to express what you expect has already happened)
As you can see, you will have been given a diary, some flyers and a notebook. (often heard at conferences when materials are waiting for you at your table)
By the end of the first month, we will have achieved a growth of 10%. (to talk about goals and targets)
Typically, we are able to say all of these sentences without using the Future Perfect, and as a consequence, this tense is not that common.
We are 30 minutes late. I'm sure he has already left. (used Present Perfect with already)
As you can see, you have been given a diary, some flyers and a notebook. (used Present Perfect)
At the end of the first month, we are going to achieve a growth of 10%. (used be going to for future plans or intentions)
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