§ 2. The Use of the Future Continuous

We use the Future Continuous to denote:

1. An action in progress at a definite moment in the future

• with the adverbials at this time tomorrow, at that moment, at 6 o’clock on Friday, from 5 till 7 tomorrow, etc.

E.g. I’ll be working at my report at 8 o’clock tomorrow.

We will be waiting for you from 10 till 11 next Tuesday.

The definite moment can be understood from the context or indicated by another future action.

E.g. He can’t come at 2 o’clock tomorrow because he’ll be singing at the concert.

I’ll be working in the garden when he returns.

2. A fixed arrangement seen as a part of routine

E.g. He will be taking part in our exhibition in May.

3. An anticipated future action

• The element of anticipation can be expressed by the verbs to be sure, to believe, to expect, to feel, to guess, to suppose, to think, etc.

E.g. I feel I’ll be asking the same question tomorrow.

Don’t tell Ann about it. She’s very talkative. She’ll be telling everybody your secret.

4. a polite inquiry (politer than the Future Indefinite)

E.g. When will you be making a decision?

THE FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

(THE FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE)

§ 1. The Formation of the Future Perfect

1. We form the Future Perfect by means of the auxiliary verb TO HAVE in the Future Indefinite (will have) and Participle II of the main verb.

WILL HAVE + PARTICIPLE II (Ved/V3)

E.g. I will have written the letter by 6 o’clock tomorrow.

She will have translated the text by the time the bell rings.

In informal English we can also use short affirmative forms.

Full affirmative forms	Short affirmative forms
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) will have worked.	I (he, she, it, we, you, they)’ll have worked.

2. In negative sentences we place the negative particle NOT after the first part (will) of the auxiliary verb TO HAVE. In informal English we use short negative forms.

E.g. I will not/won’t have written the letter by 6 o’clock tomorrow.

She will not/won’t have translated the text by the time the bell rings.

Full negative forms	Short negative forms
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) will not have worked.	I (he, she, it, we, you, they) won’t have worked.

3. In interrogative sentences (questions) we place the first part (will) of the auxiliary verb TO HAVE before the subject.

E.g. Will I have written the letter by 6 o’clock tomorrow?

Will she have translated the text by the time the bell rings?

4. In negative-interrogative sentences (negative questions) we place the first part (will) of the auxiliary verb TO HAVE before the subject and the negative particle NOT after the subject. In informal English we place short negative forms before the subject.

E.g. Will I not/Won’t I have written the letter by 6 o’clock tomorrow?

Will she not/Won’t she have translated the text by the time the bell rings?

Full negative-interrogative forms	Short negative-interrogative forms
Will I (he, she, it, we, you, they) not have worked?	Won’t I (he, she, it, we, you, they) have worked?