Learn the definition, rules, usage, example sentences, and practice exercises of the future progressive tense in English. Learn the entire lesson and enhance your English grammar learning skills.
Future Progressive (Will Be Verb + -ing)
Use the future progressive when you refer to an action or event that will be ongoing at some time or for some period of time in the future.
- FUTURE ACTION OCCURRING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME: I will be studying all night.
- FUTURE EVENT OCCURRING AT A POINT IN TIME: At approximately 7:30, the sun will be sinking behind the horizon.
The future progressive consists of the auxiliary verbs will and be and the -ing form of the main verb.
| Singular | Plural | |
| First Person | I will be verb + ing | will be verb + ing |
| Second Person | you will be verb + ing | you will be verb + ing |
| Third Person | he, she, it will be verb + ing | they will be verb + ing |
When a one-syllable word or a word with a stressed final syllable ends in a single consonant sound, double the last letter before adding -ing.
- One-syllable word: plan ➞ planning
- Word ending in a stressed syllable: emit ➞ emitting
- BUT sew ➞ sewing [This word ends in a vowel sound.]
When a word ends with a consonant and the letter e, drop the e before adding -ing: come ➞ coming. The letter e is not dropped from words such as be, see, and free.
Forming Negatives
To make a future progressive verb negative, place “not” after “will.“
- will not be flying
Forming Contractions
Contractions are often formed by combining pronouns and the auxiliary verb will or by combining the auxiliary verb will and not. You will often hear these contractions in conversation or see them in informal writing, but you will rarely find them used in formal contexts.
Remember that an apostrophe indicates that at least one letter is omitted and that the letter i in will changes to o in the negative contraction won’t.
| I’ll be working | I won’t be working |
| You’ll be working | You won’t be working |
| He’ll be working | He won’t be working |
| She’ll be working | She won’t be working |
| It’ll be working | It won’t be working |
| We’ll be working | We won’t be working |
| They’ll be working | They won’t be working |
Forming yes-or-no Questions
To form yes-or-no questions, begin the question with the auxiliary verb will. Follow will with the subject, be, and the -ing form of the main verb.
- Statement: He will be coming along.
- Yes/no question: Will he be coming along?
Forming Wh-Questions
In wh-questions, when a question word is the subject of the sentence, the form of the question is similar to the form of a statement.
- Statement: Debbie Little will be running for office next year.
- Wh-question: Who will be running for office next year?
When the question word is any other part of the sentence, the auxiliary verb will comes after the question word and is followed by the subject, be, and the -ing form of the main verb.
- Statement: They will be playing soccer on Sunday.
- Wh-question: When will they be playing soccer?
Future Progressive Tense Exercises
Exercise-1
Complete each sentence with the future progressive form of the verb in parentheses.
1. Sean — — — — — (represent) us at the meeting.
2. They — — — — — (leave) at 6:00.
3. Their car — — — — — (follow) ours.
4. We — — — — — (wait) for you on the corner.
5. He — — — — — (watch) the clock.
6. They — — — — — (produce) more energy than they need.
7. The tour company — — — — — (provide) lunch.
8. It — — — — — (snow) in the mountains.
9. Look for me by the entry. I — — — — — (wear) a red hat.
10. The Copy Shop — — — — — (open) a new store downtown this year
Exercise-2
Complete each of the following sentences with a negative form of the future progressive. Use the subject and verb provided.
EXAMPLE: I, attend
I will not be attending the meeting.
1. They, appear
— — — — — on television.
2. It, start
— — — — — on time.
3. We, read
— — — — — that novel this term.
4. He, arrive
— — — — — in time for the party.
5. She, stay
— — — — — in a hotel.
6. You, live
— — — — — by yourself.
7. I, make
— — — — — much money next year.
Exercise-3
Use the pronoun and verb given to create a sentence that contains a contraction. If not is also given, use a negative contraction.
EXAMPLE: She, come, not
She won’t be coming to the party.
1. He, joining, not
— — — — —— — — — — us this evening.
2. It, affect
— — — — —— — — — — everyone.
3. I, treat
— — — — —— — — — — for dinner tonight.
4. They, need, not
— — — — —— — — — — any more help.
5. She, arrive, not
— — — — —— — — — — until midnight.
6. You, fly
— — — — — — — — — — Tomorrow to Honolulu.
7. I, think, not
— — — — — — — — — — of much besides the exam.
Exercise-4
Rewrite the following statements as yes/no questions.
EXAMPLE: She will be playing for our team this year.
Will she be playing for our team this year?
1. I will be seeing you next week.
2. They will be traveling by bus.
3. Takamitsu will be assisting Heather.
4. They will be offering special packages at the end of the season.
5. You will be checking your e-mail daily.
Exercise-5
Complete the questions below based on the statements provided.
EXAMPLE: Alison will be accompanying them.
Who will be accompanying them?
1. Kenji will be taking notes.
Who — — — — — — — — — —
2. The star of the show will be receiving an award.
Who — — — — — — — — — —
3. They will be sitting in the back row.
Where — — — — — — — — — —
4. You will be driving two hundred miles on your first day.
How far — — — — — — — — — —
5. She will be finishing her project in May.
When — — — — — — — — — —
Future Progressive Tense in English
Future Progressive Tense Worksheet
