Future Tenses, Grammar Exercises

The Future Continuous: Explanation and Exercise

First of all, I just want to say that I feel that this is one of those grammar points that is often neglected in the classroom.

However, if you want to speak good English, you need to know the future continuous tense (or future progressive). This tense appears regularly in English. Therefore, it’s worth investing a wee bit of your time to learning how and when to use it.

Thankfully it’s pretty simple to construct – you don’t have to worry about conjugating it for each person. You are using ‘will be’ or ‘won’t be’ whether it’s first person singular, third person plural or whatever.

Subject + WILL + BE + verb-ING

Positive: I will be having lunch outside. / I‘ll be having lunch outside.

Negative: You will not be having lunch outside. / You won’t be having

Question: Will you be having lunch outside?

Scroll down to the bottom for a top study tip!


Grammar Explanation

1. We use the future continuous to express an action in progress at a certain time in the future. It is very often used with phrases like ‘this time tomorrow’ or ‘this time next week’

However, the actual time isn’t always expressed but it is implied.

This time tomorrow we’ll be flying to Japan.

I hope your operation goes well. I’ll be thinking of you.

2. Another use of the future continuous is to talk about things we believe could be happening now.

Don’t phone her right now. She’ll be having lunch.

“Where’s Josh?” – “I think I saw him in the conference room. He’ll be getting his presentation ready.”

3. It is also used as a more polite or indirect way to ask about plans.

Will you be joining us for dinner tomorrow?

(At a hotel) How will you be paying, sir?

Let’s practice, shall we?

Exercise

Add the correct form of the future continuous and scroll down for the answers.

1. Have a great birthday. I’m sorry we can’t be there but we __________ of you. (think)

2. This time tomorrow George __________  his driving test. (take)

3. You can have the computer this afternoon if you like. I __________ it. (not / use)

4. The team’s plane _________  in Barcelona right about now. (land)

5. “What __________ this time next year, Lizzy?” (you / do)

– “I hope I __________ and __________ in Canada.” (live; work)

6. I wouldn’t ring Sean right now.  He __________  poker and you know how he hates to be interrupted. (play)

7. Karen has just called me. She __________ us for lunch tomorrow as she has to go to Milan. (not / join)

8. __________ your parents when you’re in Istanbul? (you / visit)


  1. ANSWERS
  2. 1.  ‘ll be thinking
  3. 2.  will be taking
  4. 3.  won’t be using
  5. 4.  will be landing
  6. 5.  will you be doing / ‘ll be living and working (there’s no need to repeat “I’ll be”)
  7. 6.  ‘ll be playing
  8. 7. won’t be joining
  9. 8. will you be visiting

    Study Tip

    I don’t recommend trying to memorise ‘formulas’ for tense structures, for instance – Subject + WILL + BE + verb-ING.

    Instead I prefer to memorise a useful short simple sentence which uses a structure, like the examples above. Then all you have to do is make little changes, such as the final verb in the case of the future continuous.

    In my experience as a language learner, the brain finds it much easier to remember an example sentence than the formula. This works especially well with tricky structures like the conditionals.
    ………………………………………………………………………
  10. There are heaps more free resources here on my website for learning or teaching English, so please have a look around! My content is mostly aimed at a B1 / B2 level of English.
  11. And if you would be so kind, tell a friend or colleague who is also learning English to check it out. It would be a huge help in growing this website. I would really appreciate it. My content is mostly aimed at a B1 / B2 level of English.
  12. More Grammar Exercises
  13.  

Grammar

Grammar Exercise. Verb Patterns (3): Gerund or Infinitive?

Add the gerund or infinitive form (with or without “to”) of the verb in brackets. 

  1.  “I don’t feel like __________ (cook) for so many people. How about __________
    (order) some pizzas?”

  2. Glen really enjoys __________ (read) books by Stephen King.

  3. We arranged __________ (meet) my cousins at the entrance to the amusement park.
  4. At work Sonia agreed __________ (take) a pay cut. However, she refused
    __________ (work) longer hours.
  5. I’m not sure it’s worth __________ (go) to the party now. It’s probably almost over.
  6. Julian spends all his time __________ (study) these days.
  7. When he graduates Damian would like __________ (work) for a national newspaper.
  8. Pamela can’t stand people __________ (wear) fur coats.
  9. Before __________ (become) a rock star, Sting used __________ (be) a teacher.
  10. The book was so funny it made me __________ (laugh) out loud.
  11. They were so busy __________ (look at) the cute dog that they didn’t notice the bus had arrived.
  12. __________ (Study) languages online is become more and more popular.

Answers

 

Verb Patterns (1): Gerund or Infinitive? 
Verb Patterns (2): Gerund or Infinitive? (Special cases: Forget / Remember / Stop / Need)
Verb Patterns (3): Gerund or Infinitive?

Verbs + Prepositions Exercise 1 Exercise 2

Grammar, Vocabulary

Confusing Words (5): As or Like?

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Exercise 1

Choose ‘as’ or ‘like’ to fill the gaps.

1. Walter used to work _____ a waiter at his father’s restaurant.

2. Delphine has been to some amazing places this year, _____ Argentina, India, and Borneo.

3. Did you hear that? It sounded _____ a phone ringing.

4. I think you should do _____ he asked.

5. He loves animals _____ much _____ I do.

6. She looks a little bit _____ Jennifer Lawrence, don’t you think?

7. It looks _____ if it’s going to rain.

8. Ian’s going to go to Edinburgh university _____ his sister. She studied there a few years ago.

Exercise 2

Choose ‘as’ or ‘like’ to fill the gaps.

1. Believe me, we are surprised, _____ you.

2.  Believe me, we are _____ surprised ______ you are.

3.  What’s the matter? You look ______ you’ve seen a ghost!

4.  Many people use their smartphones _____ an alarm clock too.

5. In real life she’s a little bit _____ her character in the movie.

6.  _____ us, he cycles to work.

7.  Kate speaks several languages, such ___ Russian and Portuguese.

8. _____ I was saying, we really need to book the hotel in the next few days.















Answers

Exercise 1

1. as
2. like
3. like
4. as *
5. as … as
6. like
7. as
8. like

Exercise 2

1. like
2. as … as
3. like
4. as
5. like
6. like
7. as
8. as *

* You will hear people use ‘like’ here but many people consider it incorrect to use ‘like’ in this way, as a conjunction, so to be on the safe side use ‘as’, especially if you’re writing something formal or sitting an exam. 😉

Read more on Like vs. As: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/like-versus-as

Confusing Words (4): Job or Work?

Confusing Words (3): Say or Tell?

Confusing Words (2)

Confusing Words (1)