The ESL Future Continuous tense (aka the Future Progressive) is one of the three progressive/continuous verb tenses ESL students have to learn to master English. The other two are the Present Continuous and the Past Continuous.
This tense is a little more complicated for students, because it involves two concepts: (1) a progressive action and (2) a point in time in the future. It's usually saved for intermediate ESL or EFL learners. However, advanced English language learners will also benefit from a review of the ESL Future Continuous.
As for all tenses, verb conjugation is only one part of the ESL or EFL lesson. The forms and the functions of the tense must also be taught. For a thorough discussion on how to teach verb tenses, see Teaching ESL Verb Tenses.
ESL Future Continuous Verb Conjugation
The Future Continuous can be formed two ways:
subject + will be + -ing form of the verb
or
be going to + be + -ing
.
Here are some examples using subject + will be + -ing. Only the subject changes. "Will be + -ing" stays the same no matter who or what the subject is.
1. I will be talking. I will be walking. I will be dancing. I will be eating.
2. You will be talking. You will be walking. You will be dancing. You will be eating.
3. She/He/It will be talking. She/He/It will be walking. She/He/It will be dancing. She/He/It will be eating.
4. They will be talking. They will be walking. They will be dancing. They will be eating.
5. We will be talking. We will be walking. We will be dancing. We will be eating.
Here are some examples using be going to + be + -ing. The only thing that changes in this form of the ESL Future Continuous is the conjugation of the verb "be" in "be going to." The rest ("going to be + –ing") stays the same.
1. I am going to be talking. I am going to be walking. I am going to be dancing. I am going to be eating.
2. You are going to be talking. You are going to be walking. You are going to be dancing. You are going to be eating.
3. She/He/It is going to be talking. She/He/It is going to be walking. She/He/It is going to be dancing. She/He/It is going to be eating.
4. They are going to be talking. They are going to be walking. They are going to be dancing. They are going to be eating.
5. We are going to be talking. We are going to be walking. We are going to be dancing. We are going to be eating.
ESL Future Continuous Verb Forms (five forms the ESL/EFL student must learn)
1. Affirmative Usage (e.g., She'll be teaching ESOL students next semester. / She's going to be teaching ESOL students next semester.)
2. Negative Usage (e.g., She will not be teaching students from the U.K. She won't be teaching students from the U.K. / She isn't going to be teaching students from the U.K.)
3. Yes/No Questions (e.g., Will she be teaching them the Future Progressive? / Is she going to be teaching them the Future Progressive?)
4. Short Answers (e.g., Yes, she will. / Yes, she is. And, No, she won't. / No, she isn't.)
5. WH- Questions (e.g., When will she be teaching the Future Simple tenses? / When is she going to be teaching the Future Simple tenses?)
ESL Future Continuous Function
The Future Continuous (aka the Future Progressive) is used to talk about an activity that will be in progress at some time in the future.
Here are some examples:
I will be vacationing in France next summer. / I'm going to be vacationing in Brazil the summer after next.
You will be teaching adult ESL students tomorrow at 11 a.m. / You are going to be teaching adult ESL students tomorrow at 11 a.m.
She will be eating dinner when I get there. / She is going to be eating dinner when I get there.
They will be waiting for me at the train station when I arrive. They are going to be waiting for me at the train station when I arrive.
We will be playing tennis at 5:30 a.m. / We are going to be playing tennis at 5:30 a.m.
Student Challenges with the ESL Future Continuous
The first possible challenge is the fact that there are two ways to express the Future Continuous. I am always sure to present only one form at a time.
The other challenge, or confusion, is that sometimes either the Future Continuous or the Future Simple can be used with very little or no difference in meaning.
Here's an example:
"Don't eat too much. Dinner will be coming soon." "Don't eat too much. Dinner is going to be coming soon."
