Future Continuous Usage 1: Action at defined time on a clock

Clock time: Future Continuous Tense expresses an action that will be ongoing at a particular time on a clock in the future. Another way to explain:

Future Continuous Tense is used when an action is ongoing at a defined point in time in the future. In our situation here, it’s time on a clock.

We’ll be watching a movie at 2 pm.

We can express a point in time, not only by time on a clock. A point in time (sometimes period of time) can be expressed by another action:

Parallel and perpendicular actions in Future Continuous compared with ongoing actions at a particular time on clock

Another ongoing action in the future (parallel actions is a whole lesson:)

We’ll be watching movies when they are learning new tenses. (Note: use of a present tense for a future action – are learning)

Another non-ongoing action in the future (perpendicular actions is a whole lesson:)

We’ll be watching movies when they come. (Note: use of a present tense for a future action – they come)

Other means to express a point in time in the future

It can be an event, date, time of the day etc. Anything that shows us that there is, or possibly could be a point in time or length of time, and logically, an ongoing or continuous action that could fill this period:

Tomorrow (meaning a significant or some part of it), all day, all morning, for a few hours, from 5 to 6, during his visit, etc. etc.

We will be watching movies all day long!

If we don’t have such an indication of time, whether it’s a point in time or period of time, we normally can infer them from the context.

Also on Future Continuous:

Do you still have questions?

Back to: Future Continuous Tense, also Future Progressive

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