Sophie and Ben are trying to make plans for the cinema, but Ben already has a busy evening. Listen to their conversation and follow the dialogue. Pay attention to the times they mention and think about this question: What is Ben doing at each future moment?
Sophie: Are you free tomorrow evening? We’re going to the cinema after school.
Ben: I’d love to, but I don’t think I can. At five, I’ll be travelling back from my football match.
Sophie: What about seven? The film starts at seven thirty.
Ben: At seven, I’ll probably still be having dinner with my family. It’s my grandma’s birthday.
Sophie: Oh, that’s nice. Maybe we can go on Saturday then.
Ben: Saturday works! In the afternoon, I’ll be studying for my maths test, but I’ll be free after six.
Sophie: Perfect. Then at seven on Saturday, we’ll be watching the film instead of talking about it!
Ben: Much better plan.
Ben: I’d love to, but I don’t think I can. At five, I’ll be travelling back from my football match.
Sophie: What about seven? The film starts at seven thirty.
Ben: At seven, I’ll probably still be having dinner with my family. It’s my grandma’s birthday.
Sophie: Oh, that’s nice. Maybe we can go on Saturday then.
Ben: Saturday works! In the afternoon, I’ll be studying for my maths test, but I’ll be free after six.
Sophie: Perfect. Then at seven on Saturday, we’ll be watching the film instead of talking about it!
Ben: Much better plan.
Learn: Ben talks about actions that will be happening at a particular moment in the future.
Look at these examples:
At five, I’ll be travelling back from my football match.
At seven, I’ll probably still be having dinner with my family.
In the afternoon, I’ll be studying for my maths test.
At seven on Saturday, we’ll be watching the film.
At five, I’ll be travelling back from my football match.
At seven, I’ll probably still be having dinner with my family.
In the afternoon, I’ll be studying for my maths test.
At seven on Saturday, we’ll be watching the film.
These sentences use the Future Continuous.
1. When do we use the Future Continuous?
At five tomorrow, Ben will be travelling.
Ben will not start travelling exactly at five. He will be in the middle of travelling at that time. The Future Continuous helps us show a future moment like a scene in a film.
We use the Future Continuous to talk about an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Ben will not start travelling exactly at five. He will be in the middle of travelling at that time. The Future Continuous helps us show a future moment like a scene in a film.
2. How do we form this tense?
Affirmative sentences: subject + will be + verb-ingHe’ll be having dinner.
Negative sentences: subject + will not be (won’t be) + verb-ingShe won’t be sleeping at eight.
Yes / No questions: Will + subject + be + verb-ing?WH-questions: Question word* + will + subject + be + verb-ing?
Will you be studying at six?
What will you be doing at seven?
What will you be doing at seven?
* Revise question words: Passive Voice: Events in the Present
3. Spelling rules.
For many verbs, we simply add -ing. Formula: verb + ing
play — playing
read — reading
watch — watching
If a verb ends in silent -e, we usually remove "e" before adding -ing. Formula: verb - e + ing
make — making
come — coming
dance — dancing
If a verb ends in -ee, we do not remove anything. Formula: verb + ing
see — seeing
agree — agreeing
agree — agreeing
If a short, one-syllable verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, we usually double the final consonant before adding -ing. Formula: verb + final consonant x2 + ing
run — running
sit — sitting
stop — stopping
plan — planning
sit — sitting
stop — stopping
plan — planning
If a two-syllable verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the final consonant only when the last syllable is stressed.
commit — [kəˈmɪt] — committing
begin — [bɪˈɡɪn] — beginning
prefer — [prɪˈfɜːr] — preferring
admit — [ədˈmɪt] — admitting
Revise phonetics: The Sound Code: The Phonetic Alphabet
If a verb ends in -ie, change "ie" to "y". Formula: verb - ie + y + ing
lie — lying
die — dying
tie — tying
die — dying
tie — tying
In British English, some verbs ending in -l double the final "l" before -ing. In American English, these are often written with one "l".
travel
British: travelling
American: traveling
cancel
British: cancelling
American: canceling
If a verb ends in w, x or y, we do not double the last letter. We simply add -ing.
enjoy — enjoying
fix — fixing
snow — snowing
snow — snowing
4. Compare the meaning
You already know several ways to talk about the future. Now look at how the meaning changes.
I promise, I’ll call you at seven. (This is a promise.) Revise Simple Future: The Influencer’s Damage Control
I’m going to call Anna after school. (This shows a future plan or intention.) Revise Future with "be going to": Usage of "Be going to")
I’m meeting Anna at seven. This shows a fixed future arrangement.
At seven, I’ll be meeting Anna. This shows that the action will be in progress at that exact future time.
You already know several ways to talk about the future. Now look at how the meaning changes.
I promise, I’ll call you at seven. (This is a promise.) Revise Simple Future: The Influencer’s Damage Control
I’m going to call Anna after school. (This shows a future plan or intention.) Revise Future with "be going to": Usage of "Be going to")
I’m meeting Anna at seven. This shows a fixed future arrangement.
At seven, I’ll be meeting Anna. This shows that the action will be in progress at that exact future time.