Explanation
Future continuous – Grammar chart
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Future continuous – Use
Actions in progress in the future
We use the future continuous for situations or actions that will be in progress at a certain time in the future.
- This time next week, we‘ll be travelling to Paris.
- Tomorrow at 10, you‘ll be doing your exam.
- When you get off the train, I‘ll be waiting on the platform.
- In two months’ time, we‘ll be lying on the beach and drinking a mojito.
Future arrangements (=present continuous)
We use the future continuous instead of the present continuous for future events that have already been planned or decided.
- We’ll be coming next weekend.
- We’ll be leaving at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Future continuous: signal words
As you can see in the examples above, we often use the future continuous with time expressions such as:
- This time … (this time tomorrow, this time next week, etc.)
- When …
- At + time … (at 7 tomorrow, at midday next Monday, etc.)
- In … (in 2 weeks, in 3 months, in 5 years, etc)
- In …’ time (in 2 weeks’ time, in 3 months’ time, in 5 years time, etc)
Future perfect – Grammar chart
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Future perfect – Use
Actions finished in the future
We use the future perfect for actions that will be finished before certain time in the future.
- By 2050, researchers will have found a cure for cancer.
- By this time next year, I’ll have graduated.
- When you arrive tomorrow, we’ll have left.
Duration until some time in the future
We use the future perfect to talk about the duration of a situation until a certain time in the future.
- By the time I leave, I will have been in England for 6 months.
- In 2 years, we will have been married for 20 years.
Future perfect: signal words
As you can see in the examples above, we often use the future perfect with time expressions such as:
- By … (by tomorrow, by next week, by the end of the year, etc.)
- By this time … (by this time tomorrow, by this time next week, etc.)
- In … (in 2 weeks, in 5 years, etc.)
- When/Before …
By + time expression means ‘not later than’, ‘at’ or ‘before’ certain time.
