Future continuous/future perfect

CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE?

1 In two years´time I´ll write my novel.

2 In three years´time I´ll be writing my novel.

3 In four years´time I´ll have written my novel.

CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE?

In two years´time I´ll write my novel.

CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE?

In three years´time I´ll be writing my novel.

CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE?

In four years´time I´ll have written my novel.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

FORM: WILL BE + VERB + -ING

USE: To say that an action will be in progress at a certain time in the future.

Examples:

This time tomorrow, I ´ll be lying on the beach in the sun.

Don´t phone me between 7 and 8 as we ´ll be having dinner then.

What will you be doing tomorrow at 12? (polite)

• This time tomorrow, I ´ll be lying on the beach in the sun. Don´t phone me between 7 and 8 as we ´ll be having dinner then. What will you be doing tomorrow at 12? (polite)

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

The future continuous can also be used as an alternative to the present continuous to talk about things which are already planned or decided.

E.g.: I´ll be going to the gym tomorrow afternoon.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS EXERCISES

Can you complete these sentences using the verbs in brackets?

1 This time tomorrow I´ll _______ (study, work, walk, etc).

2 At 9 p.m next Saturday I´ll_______(cook, have, drive, etc.).

3 This time next week I´ll _______(work, ski, travel, etc).

4 At midnight next New year´s Eve I´ll _______(dance, eat, drink, etc.).

FUTURE CONTINUOUS EXERCISES

Answers:

1 This time tomorrow I ´ll be working.

2 At 9 p.m next Saturday I ´ll be cooking dinner.

3 This time next week I ´ll be travelling to Prague.

4 At midnight next New year´s Eve I ´ll be eating my twelve grapes.

FUTURE PERFECT

FORM: WILL HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

USE: To say that something will be finished before a particular time in the future.

Typical time expressions used :

IN three weeks´/ two years´/ 10 hours´ time / …

BY Saturday/ BY next year/ BY the time you arrive / …

• IN three weeks´/ two years´/ 10 hours´ time / … BY Saturday/ BY next year/ BY the time you arrive / …

FUTURE PERFECT

Examples:

By this time next month I ´ll have done all the work (i.e. the work will be finished next month at the latest).

In 5 years’ time I ’ll have had two children.

By the time we get to the cinema, the film will have started.