PE-30: Future Continuous: What You Will Be Doing
This time tomorrow, what will you be doing? The tense for an action in progress at a future moment — and the politest way to ask about someone's plans.
PE-30: Future Continuous: What You Will Be Doing
"This time tomorrow I'll be flying to Seoul." Not I will fly — that is just the fact. I'll be flying puts you inside the moment: the plane is in the air, you are in your seat, the action is in the middle of happening. This is the fourth and last future you need, and it completes the whole picture.
In this lesson you will learn
- The form will be + verb-ing
- Three jobs: a future moment, an expected event, a polite question
- Why Will you be using the car? is more polite than Will you use it?
- Which verbs still refuse the -ing
1. The picture: a band around a future moment
Same shape as the Past Continuous in PE-23, only moved to the right of NOW. The action starts before the future moment and is still going afterwards.
At eight o'clock tonight I will be doing my homework.
Bugun kechqurun soat sakkizda men uy vazifamni qilayotgan boʻlaman.
2. Job one: in the middle of a future moment
This is the job you will use most. It answers the question "What will you be doing at …?"
will + verb — the whole action
- I 'll write the report tomorrow.
(from start to finish) - She 'll cook dinner.
will be + -ing — the middle of it
- At ten I 'll be writing the report.
(already in progress) - When you arrive, she 'll be cooking.
Don't call me at seven — I'll be having dinner with my family.
Soat yettida menga qoʻngʻiroq qilma — oilam bilan ovqatlanayotgan boʻlaman.
Signal words: at 7 o'clock, this time tomorrow, when you arrive, all day.
3. Job two: things that will happen anyway
Use it for events that are simply part of the normal course of things — nobody decided them specially, they are just going to happen.
I'll be seeing Afsona at school tomorrow, so I can give her your book.
Ertaga maktabda Afsonani koʻraman, shuning uchun kitobingizni unga bera olaman.
Not a plan or a promise — it is simply going to happen because we both go to school.
4. Job three: the polite question
Here is a subtle and very useful piece of English. "Will you use the car tonight?" sounds like a request or even pressure. "Will you be using the car tonight?" is neutral — it only asks about the facts, with no hidden request attached.
Sounds like a request
- Will you come to the meeting?
(= please come) - Will you help us?
Just asking — polite and neutral
- Will you be coming to the meeting?
(= I'm only asking) - Will you be staying long?
5. Stative verbs, one more time
The rule from PE-13 holds in every tense, including this one. Verbs of knowing, wanting and belonging never take -ing.
Tomorrow I will be knowing my results.
Tomorrow I will know my results.
6. Common mistakes
At six I will studying.
At six I will be studying. (the "be" is missing)
I will be go to school tomorrow.
I will go to school tomorrow. / I will be going …
Will you be to come tonight?
Will you be coming tonight?
This time tomorrow I will fly to Seoul.
This time tomorrow I'll be flying to Seoul.
She will be wanting a new phone.
She will want a new phone. (stative)
Practice
1 Complete: This time next week we ? (sit) on the beach in Termez.
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will be sitting — this time next week names a future moment, and we will be in the middle of sitting there.
2 What is the difference? (a) I'll cook dinner when you arrive. (b) I'll be cooking dinner when you arrive.
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(a) I will start cooking after you arrive. (b) I will already be cooking when you walk in.
3 Make it polite and neutral: Will you stay for dinner?
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Will you be staying for dinner?
The Continuous removes the feeling of a request and just asks about the plan.
4 Correct it: Don't phone at nine — I will have a shower.
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Don't phone at nine — I'll be having a shower.
You need the "in the middle of it" meaning; will have only states the fact.
5 Write one sentence about what you will be doing at 9 p.m. tonight.
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Model: At nine o'clock tonight I'll be reading in my room, because I always read before I sleep.
Check all three parts: will + be + -ing.
Key words — Kalit soʻzlar
- Future Continuouskelasi davomli zamon
- This time tomorrowertaga shu paytda
- In progressdavom etayotgan
- Neutralxolis, betaraf
- Politexushmuomala
- Requestiltimos
- Anywaybaribir, har holda
- Resultsnatijalar
- To stay longuzoq qolmoq
- Beachplyaj, qirgʻoq
🎯 Remember this
- will be + verb-ing — all three parts, every time.
- It means "in the middle of it" at a future moment, not the whole action.
- Also for things that will happen anyway: I'll be seeing her at school.
- Will you be …? is the polite, neutral way to ask about someone's plans.
- Stative verbs still refuse -ing: I will know, not
will be knowing.