In this article we’ll practise making the future progressive. It’s not very complicated.

You use: will be + verb ending in –ing.

When to Use?

We use the future progressive when something is sure to happen.

Here is an example:

A) I can say: I will go to the movies tonight.

B) I can also say: I will be going to the movies tonight.

In B, it’s certain that I will go. Maybe I’ve already set up with a friend, or we even might have bought the tickets already.

One more example. What’s the difference between these two sentences?

A Janelle and David will catch the 14:02 train from Waterloo station.

B Janet and David will be catching the 14:02 train from Waterloo station.

Again, sentence B is more certain than sentence A which uses simple future. In B, you can take it for a fact that Janet and David are going to be on that train.

Negatives with Future Progressive

You can also use will not = won’t.

Here is an example:

A The airline won’t fly to Brussels until February.

B The airline won’t be flying to Brussels until February.

B is more certain than A.

Which is Better to Use?

Please note:

In all cases, you may use both regular future and future progressive. When you want to sound extra sure, use future progressive.

Exercise

Use the future progressive (will be + -ing).

You can do this exercise online and check your answers, here. 

1 The class ____________ (end) at 4 pm.

2 Karim ____________ (graduate) in June next year.

3 On 28 January, Faye _____________ (celebrate) her 26^th birthday.

4 Around this time, Kitty __________ (watch) the news.

5 It’s Friday, so Grandma ___________ (cook) fish.

6 Sandra and Jon __________ be travelling to Thailand for the holidays.

7 The company ____________ (raise) prices as of 1 January 2014.

8 The advertising manager ___________ (not approve) such a high budget as long as our results are disappointing.

9 The shops __________ (sell) Christmas sweets until way into January.

10 That lamp __________ (not work) if you don’t plug it in first.