The future continuous and be plus infinitive

Callum
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Callum.

Catherine
And me, Catherine.

Callum
Today’s programme is about a couple of ways of talking about the future. The future continuous verb form and be plus the infinitive.

Catherine So you ‘re to listen carefully…

Callum
Good example!

Catherine Thank you. Let’s start with the future continuous. Here’s an example. This time next week, I’ll be sitting on a beach in Mallorca.

Callum Lucky you! So, I ‘ll be sitting , in the future continuous, is an event that will be happening at a particular time in the future.

Catherine And I’ve already planned it. I used the time phrase this time next week . We can use other time phrases like … next year .

Callum Or tonight , for example.We can also use the future continuous to say how long we’ll be doing something. So Catherine how long will you be staying in Mallorca?

Catherine I’ll be staying in Palma for one week before travelling around the island.

Callum So Catherine used the future continuous to say she plans to stay in Palma for a week.

Catherine That’s right. Now w e can also use the future continuous to say we’ll be doing something while something else is happening… So, Callum, while you ‘re working at the BBC I ‘ll be sipping my cocktails by the hotel pool!

Callum Yes, notice that we usually use the present continuous in the time phrase after while … Catherine said while I ‘m working.

Catherine We could use when instead of while, and follow it with the present simple.

Here’s an example.

Rob A taxi will be waiting when you arrive.

STING

Catherine Today we’re looking at the future continuous to talk about future plans.

Callum But we use it for other things as well. For example, we can use the future continuous to make predictions. Here’s an example.

Rob Those clouds look very dark. It’ll be raining soon.

Callum Rob knows it’ll be raining soon because the sky is very dark.

Catherine We can also use the future continuous to say what we imagine to be true at the moment. Listen to this example.

Rob
You can’t ring Abdul now! It’s two o’clock in the morning in Dubai. He ‘ll be sleeping .

Catherine We don’t know for certain that Abdul is sleeping, but it’s likely.

Callum Sometimes we use the future continuous in a question when we want to be polite. Here’s an example

Rob Will you be staying for dinner?

STING

Callum We form the future continuous with subject plus will or won ‘t plus be and the - ing form of the main verb. Here are some examples :

Rob I’ll be sitting by the pool. I won’t be taking any work with me. They’ll be arriving after midnight.

Catherine Notice that we usually use contracted forms, so I ‘ ll …and won ‘t .

Callum For questions it’s will or won ‘t plus subject plus be plus the - ing form of the verb.

Rob Why will they be arriving so late tonight?

Catherine So that’s the future continuous. Now let’s look at be plus the infinitive .

Callum We sometimes use this to tell someone what they must or mustn’t do. Here are some examples.

Rob Students are to enter the hall from the back. You’re not to go out without telling me!

Callum We often find this structure in more formal English, for example to describe official arrangements.

Rob The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to visit Singapore next month.

Catherine Or in media reports to say what will almost certainly happen. We form this structure with subject plus be plus the infinitive with to. Listen to this example.

Rob A man is to appear in court later today charged with murder.

Catherine For the negative it’s subject plus be plus not plus the infinitive with to .

Rob You are not to go to bed late tonight!

Catherine And remember, we often use short forms like: You ‘re not and He isn ‘t…

IDENT

Catherine We’re talking about the future continuous tense and be plus the infinitive .

Callum So, to recap, we use the future continuous to describe plans at a particular time in the future or for how long we’ll be doing something.

Catherine We also use it for predictions…

Callum And for polite enquiries and to say what we assume is happening.

Catherine We use be plus the infinitive for future events which involve instruction or necessity.

Catherine And for official arrangements or reports saying what will almost certainly happen.

Callum Time for our quiz. Which is correct a or b. Ready?

Catherine OK.

Callum Number one. a) I work in New York next summer or b) I’ll be working in New York next summer.

Catherine
It ‘s b).

Callum Correct. Number 2. a) Students are not to bring their cars to school. b) Students are not bring their cars to school.

Catherine It’s a).

Callum That’s right. Finally, number three. a) I’ll be working hard while you relaxing in the sun. b) I’ll be working hard while you’re relaxing in the sun.

Catherine
It ‘s b.

Callum Correct and that’s the end of the programme. There’s lots more about this on our website at bbclearningenglish.com. Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar soon.

Both Bye.