Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense is made up of the simple future tense of the verb to be ( shall / will be ) + a present participle (verb + -ing) of the main verb, as follow:

.
Subject	Simple future of 'to be'	Present participle (base + ing)
We	shall/will be	cycling

We use the future continuous tense :

for something that is going to happen or will happen. The precise time when it will happen is unknown.

Examples:

I� will be calling you when I arrive there.
We� will be going over to your house later.
They will be shovelling/shoveling to clear the snow off driveway. �

for an action that lasts a period of time in the future .

Examples:

His father will be working the whole day tomorrow.
He will be attending a two-week training course.
Twenty yachts will be competing in the three-day race. �

for an action that has been planned .

Examples:

The family � will be vacationing in Rome this summer.
I� will be going for my dental appointment tomorrow.
We � will be watching the match together on television.

to express an action that will be in progress at a certain or specified time in the future .

Examples:

We will/shall be sleeping by the time you return.
At this time next week, I shall/will be attending a job interview .
Will they be coming � around noon tomorrow?

for an action which will happen as a matter of routine or as scheduled (without intention).

Examples:

You will be working with Miss Cool again tomorrow.
The first train will be arriving around this time.

to seek a favour of someone by asking about their plans.

Examples:

Will you be passing by the post office on your way home?
Will you� be babysitting for my sister while she is away? �

to ask for information .

Examples:

We will be asking � them to mail us a copy of the itinerary.
How many members will � be joining the aerobic workout session this evening?

To make a prediction about something in the future.

Examples:

She� will be feeling very sad when she learns the truth.�
(When in doubt, may can be used instead of shall / will .)
She may be feeling sad when she learns the truth.

The future continuous tense and the simple future tense.

There is often little or no difference in meaning between the future continuous tense and the simple future tense.

Examples:

Will you � be coming � to the party tonight? (Future continuous tense)
Will you � come � to the party tonight? (Simple future tense)

The choir will be singing when the bride and bridegroom enter the church.
(Future continuous tense) (The singing will be in progress when the bride and bridegroom enter the church.)
The choir� will sing when the bride and bridegroom enter the church.
(Simple future tense: The bride and bridegroom will enter the church and then the choir will sing .)

It's possible to have more than one way to express a future action, and often they have similar meaning.

Examples:

He will be having lunch with us.
He will have lunch with us.

Some guests will be arriving late. �
Some guests will arrive late.
Some guests are arriving late.

The continuous tenses

Examples:

In the evening, she is at home. She is doing her homework. ( present continuous )
In the evening, she was at home. She was doing her homework. ( past continuous )
In the evening, she will be at home. She will be doing her homework. ( future continuous )