What Is The Future Continuous Tense?

Written by Dan

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Do you want to become a more confident English teacher? Are you looking for new ways to teach the future continuous tense so your students can understand it better?

Then this blog post is for you! Here, we’ll discuss the future continuous tense and its common uses and provide some practical examples of how to use it correctly in everyday speech.

We’ll also cover some tips and tricks to help make teaching the future continuous easier and more effective.

By the end of this article, you will feel like an expert on this subject area and have all the guidance needed to introduce this concept into your classes effectively!

Related: For more, check out our article on The Future Simple Tense  here.

Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense describes an action that will happen at a specific time. This verb form is created using the auxiliary verb ‘will’ followed by ‘be’ and the present participle (verb + ‘ing’).

Here is the basic formula for forming the future continuous tense:

subject + will + be + verb + -ing

For example: “She will be studying for her exams all weekend.”

The future continuous tense can also be used to talk about an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future and may continue after that time.

For example: “At 8 pm tomorrow, I will be watching a movie with my friends.”

The future continuous tense can also express an assumption or prediction about the future.

For example: “I’m sure they will be waiting for us when we arrive.”

Overall, the future continuous tense is used to talk about actions or events that will happen at a specific time or over time.

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How does future continuous tense differ from future simple tense?

The future continuous tense and future simple tense differ in terms of the way they describe future actions.

The future simple tense, also known as the simple future tense, is used to express simple or planned actions that will happen in the future.

It is formed using only the auxiliary verb ‘will’ followed by the base form of the main verb. For example: “He will come to the party tonight.”

On the other hand, the future continuous tense is used to express that an action will progress at a specific point. It refers to an activity or event that will start in the future and still happen later.

It is formed with the auxiliary verb “will” + “be” + verb (present participle “-ing”). For example: “She will be running a marathon tomorrow.”

In summary, the future simple tense describes planned or simple actions or events that will occur at a specific time.

In contrast, the future continuous tense expresses that an action will be ongoing or in progress at a particular point of time in the future.

The 12 Tenses in English Grammar

English grammar has twelve tenses that indicate the time of an action or event. These twelve tenses of English grammar are divided into three categories: past, present, and future, as follows.

The Present Tenses

  1. Simple present tense: Used to describe a fact or a permanent condition.
  2. Present continuous tense describes an action in progress in the present or immediate future.
  3. Present perfect tense: Used to describe an action that occurred in the recent past and has a connection to the present.
  4. Present perfect continuous tense: Used to describe an action that started in the past and continued until now.

The Past Tenses

  1. Simple past tense: Used to describe a completed action in the past.
  2. Past continuous tense: Used to describe an action that was in progress at a particular point in the past.
  3. Past perfect tense: Used to describe an event that occurred before another event in the past.
  4. Past perfect continuous tense: Used to describe an ongoing action that continued until another event in the past.

The Future Tenses

  1. The simple future tense is used to describe an action that will occur.
  2. Future continuous tense: Used to describe an ongoing activity that will happen in the future.
  3. The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed before a specific point.
  4. Future perfect continuous tense describes an ongoing action that will continue until a specific point.

Knowing the different tenses is crucial for effective communication in English. One must understand the context and use appropriate tenses for clarity and accuracy.

Teaching Opportunities for the Future Continuous Tense

Teaching the future continuous tense provides various opportunities to engage students in learning this aspect of English grammar.

Here are some potential teaching opportunities that educators can explore when teaching the future continuous tense:

  1. Using a chart or diagram to help students visualize the formation of the future continuous tense, including auxiliary verbs, present participles, and time adverbs.
  2. Pairing students together to practice using the future continuous tense in conversation, creating role-play scenarios to simulate real-world situations.
  3. Playing grammar games with the students where they form questions and statements using the future continuous tense, such as ‘Who will be running in the park tomorrow at 5 pm?’
  4. Creating writing prompts that involve the use of the future continuous tense, such as asking students to write a short story using the tense along with other grammar concepts they have learned.
  5. Providing students with reading or listening activities incorporating the future continuous tense, including texts describing ongoing or predicted events, such as weather forecasts or future travel plans.
  6. Using videos or other multimedia to reinforce student comprehension of the future continuous tense, such as presenting a video of a future event and having students use the tense to describe what will happen.

Overall, teaching the future continuous tense offers a range of opportunities for educators to engage their students in fun and interactive learning activities, enhancing their understanding of English grammar.

Lesson Plans for Teaching the Future Continuous Tense

Here are two lesson plans based on the teaching opportunities mentioned earlier:

Lesson Plan 1: Future Continuous Role-Play – An In-depth Exploration

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to confidently and correctly use the future continuous tense in a conversational context, demonstrating their understanding of its structure, usage, and application in spoken English.

Materials Needed:

  1. Role-play scenario cards: These should contain a variety of real-life situations that would require the use of the future continuous tense (e.g., making plans, predicting future events, etc.).
  2. Notecards: Students can use these to jot down key points or draft their dialogues.
  3. Pens: For writing on the notecards.
  4. Whiteboard & Markers: To illustrate examples of the future continuous tense and write down key points during the discussion.

Procedure:

  1. Introduction to Future Continuous Tense (10 minutes): Begin the class by introducing the future continuous tense. Discuss its formation (will + be + present participle), its usage (actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future), and provide a few examples. Write these examples on the whiteboard for students to reference throughout the lesson.
  2. Interactive Demonstration (15 minutes): Use a role-play scenario to demonstrate the use of the future continuous tense in conversation. Engage with a student volunteer and model how to construct sentences using this tense.
  3. Pair Work – Role-Play Scenario (20 minutes): Divide the students into pairs and distribute the role-play scenario cards. Each pair receives a unique scenario that they will have to enact using the future continuous tense. Allow them to use notecards to outline their dialogues and encourage them to include different time expressions (e.g., at this time tomorrow, by next week, etc.).
  4. Presentation of Role-Plays (30 minutes): Once the pairs have prepared their dialogues, ask each pair to present their role-play to the class. Encourage the audience to listen carefully and note the use of the future continuous tense in each presentation.
  5. Review and Discussion (15 minutes): After all the pairs have presented their role-plays, discuss the activity as a class. Highlight the correct usage of the future continuous tense and address any common mistakes or misconceptions. Use the whiteboard to write down these points for clarity.

Assessment: The students’ understanding of the future continuous tense will be evaluated based on their participation in the role-play presentation. Their ability to accurately and creatively use this tense in their dialogues will demonstrate their grasp of the concept. Ensure to provide constructive feedback, highlighting their strengths and improvement areas.

By making the lesson interactive and engaging, students learn the theoretical aspect of the future continuous tense and its practical application in everyday conversation. This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the concept, fostering confidence and proficiency in using the future continuous tense.

Lesson Plan 2: Future Continuous Writing Prompts – A Detailed Approach

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to construct a compelling short story that correctly and creatively uses the future continuous tense. This lesson will also aim to enhance their understanding of story structure, character development, and the importance of grammar in written communication.

Materials Needed:

  1. Writing prompts: These should be designed to encourage the use of the future continuous tense. For example, “Write a story about someone who will be travelling to a foreign land next year.”
  2. Paper & Pens: For students to draft their stories.
  3. Whiteboards & Markers: To illustrate examples, discuss the structure of a short story, and review the future continuous tense.

Procedure:

  1. Review of Future Continuous Tense (10 minutes): Begin the class by revisiting the future continuous tense. Discuss its formation, usage, and provide examples. Write these on the whiteboard for students to reference throughout the lesson.
  2. Introduction to Story Structure (15 minutes): Discuss the elements of a captivating short story – setting, characters, plot, conflict, and resolution. Use a well-known short story as an example to illustrate these elements.
  3. Writing Prompt Exercise (30 minutes): Distribute the writing prompts and have students begin constructing their short stories. Remind them to incorporate the future continuous tense appropriately and to pay attention to the grammar, sentence structure, and dialogue. Encourage creativity and originality in their narratives.
  4. Peer Review Session (20 minutes): Once the students have drafted their stories, divide them into small groups. Each student will read their story aloud to their group, after which the group will provide constructive feedback on the use of future continuous tense, story structure, and grammar.
  5. Class Discussion (15 minutes): Conclude the lesson with a class-wide discussion. Talk about the importance of using appropriate grammar and structure in writing. Highlight how the correct use of tenses can enhance the clarity and impact of a narrative. Use this opportunity to address common mistakes and discuss ways to improve.

Assessment: The students’ short stories will serve as the primary assessment tool. Evaluate their stories based on the correct and creative use of the future continuous tense, the coherence of the plot, the development of characters, and the overall grammar and structure. Provide individual feedback emphasizing their strengths and suggesting areas for improvement.

The future continuous tense is more than just another grammar rule to memorize; it’s a powerful tool that can elevate your communication, both in speech and writing.

Can you imagine a world where we couldn’t express actions that will be happening in the future? Our conversations would certainly lack depth and precision.

Whether you’re a language learner trying to grasp the intricacies of English or a seasoned speaker seeking to refine your linguistic skills, understanding and correctly using the future continuous tense is essential.

It breathes life into your sentences, adds clarity to your thoughts, and enables you to paint vivid pictures of the future. So why not embrace the future continuous tense?

Start practicing today; before you know it, you’ll be using it easily and confidently. After all, isn’t the beauty of language learning in its continuous journey, always evolving, always improving?

About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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