Grammar · Free lesson
Future continuous: I’ll be working at that time
A friend wants to call at ten tomorrow. You will be in the middle of work then. Explain what you expect to be doing so your friend understands your availability.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Use will be + an -ing verb to show an activity in progress at a future time: “I’ll be working at ten tomorrow.” I’ll means I will. The sentence places ten o’clock inside the expected work period; it does not say work starts at ten.
Put the future time inside the activity.
Keep all three parts of the verb pattern: will + be + working. Will stays the same with I, she or they, and be stays in its base form. In “I’ll be working at ten tomorrow,” ten is a point during the activity. To name the beginning instead, say “I’ll start work at ten.” To make it negative, use won’t (will not) and keep be + -ing: I won’t be working then.
Starting time or time during the activity?
I’ll be working at ten tomorrow.
I’ll start work at ten tomorrow.
These sentences do different jobs. Be working pictures the activity in progress; start work names its beginning.
Explain your future availability
Name the future moment
At ten tomorrow
Build the verb pattern
I will be working.
Give the useful detail
I’ll be working at ten tomorrow.
Try it now
Match the sentence to the future moment.
Read all answers and explanations
You expect to work from nine to twelve tomorrow. Which sentence shows the activity in progress at ten?
I’ll be working at ten tomorrow.Ten falls inside the nine-to-twelve work period, so I’ll be working fits. Start at ten changes the schedule; yesterday changes the day.
Complete the future-continuous pattern: “She will ___ studying at eight.”
beWill takes the base form be here. Keep will be studying together; will is and will being do not form this pattern.
Choose the negative future-continuous sentence.
I won’t be working then.Won’t means will not. The rest of this pattern still needs be + working.
Put it into practice
Keep the activity in progress.
You expect to be in the middle of work at ten. Fix the missing word without changing that focus.
I’ll working at ten tomorrow.
See a model answer
I’ll be working at ten tomorrow.
The contraction I’ll replaces I will, not I will be. You still need be before working.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Does this mean the work starts at ten?
No. In this use, ten falls within the expected activity. To give its beginning, use start and state the time.
I’ll start work at nine, so I’ll be working at ten.
How do I say the activity will not be happening then?
Use won’t be + the -ing verb. Won’t is the short form of will not; do not remove be.
I won’t be working at ten tomorrow.
Take it into your day
Use will be + -ing to place a future moment inside an activity. Keep be, even when you shorten I will to I’ll.
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