Future progressive definition: The future progressive tense is a verb tense that indicates a continuing action that will occur at some point in the future.
What is the Future Progressive Tense?
The future progressive tense is an English verb tense. It indicates an action that will occur over a period of time at some point in the future.
The future progressive expresses events that will last for a duration of time at some point in the future. It is also called the future continuous tense.
The future progressive tense is also used in the future perfect progressive.
Example Future Progressive Sentences:
- I will be going to university next year.
- You will be calling the station at noon.
Forming the Future Progressive
The future progressive follows a standard formula. It is created with a future “to be” verb conjugation and the present participle of a verb (with an –ing ending).
To form the future progressive:
- Subject + will be + present participle of verb
All subjects, singular or plural, take the same verb conjugation in the future progressive tense.
Future Progressive Tense Examples:
- Subject (he)
- Verb (to be=will be)
- Participle (attending)
- Sentence: He will be attending the service.
- Subject (They)
- Verb (to be=will be)
- Participle (applying)
- Sentence: They will be applying for the position.
Uses of the Future Progressive
The future progressive has several functions. It can be used to express:
- future actions in progress
- This refers to actions that will occur at some point in the future. These actions will last for a period (duration) of time.
- I will be reading.
- They will be finishing school soon.
- We will be living in San Francisco.
- You will be bargaining.
- This refers to actions that will occur at some point in the future. These actions will last for a period (duration) of time.
- future actions in progress (negative)
- This refers to actions that will NOT occur at some point in the future.
- To form the future progressive in the negative form, “not” is added between “will” and “be.”
- To form the future progressive (negative)
- Subject + will not be + present participle
- Examples
- He will not be graduating.
- You will not be going to the dance.
- They will not be eating with us.
- We will not be arriving on time.
- future interrogatives of duration
- This refers to actions that may or may not be occurring over a period of time in the future.
- To form the future interrogative (question), the subject is placed between “will” and “be”
- To form the future interrogative (question)
- Will + subject + be + present participle ?
- Examples
- Will you be calling?
- Will they be eating?
- Will he be going?
- Will we be attending?
Summary
Define future progressive tense: the definition of future progressive tense is the verb tense used to express ongoing or continuing future actions.
To sum up, the future progressive tense,
- is used to express future actions that will occur over a period of time.
- is formed with the future “to be” verb and a present participle
- can also be negative or interrogative.
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