Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Groups › Modals › Will be -ing
Will be -ing (future progressive)
Express future activities with focus on the flow of time
Will be / Are going to be
| FUTURE PROGRESSIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
Future progressive is often expressed with will be -ing or a verb group with a modal (e.g., may, can, shall, might, should) This "tense" is used for reporting a scheduled activity with special focus on its timing— as if one is standing in the future and experiencing the flow of the time. The focus is on the temporary, ongoing, or repetitive nature of the activity. See "aspect". |
||
| SUBJECT | MODAL BE | VERB+ING |
We |
will be |
working here tomorrow. |
You |
can be |
setting up this support. |
The architect |
may be |
coming here tomorrow. |
We |
shall be |
keeping to the plans. |
We |
should be |
getting some updated plans. |
This project |
must be |
nearing completion by June. |
| PRESENT PROGRESSIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
Present progressive with be going is a verbal expression that is used for activities that are in one's current time frame (impending, about to happen) such as discussions of personal arrangements and fixed plans. "This is what I can see coming." Be going is followed by an infinitival verb form (to + be). Adverbs be included to express opinion (as modals do.) |
||
| SUBJECT | BE GOING + TO BE | VERB+ING¹ |
We |
are going to be |
working here tomorrow. |
You |
are potentially going to be |
setting up this support. |
The architect |
is possibly going to be |
coming here tomorrow. |
We |
are going to be |
keeping to the plans. |
We |
are likely going to be |
getting some updated plans. |
This project |
is necessarily going to be |
nearing completion by June. |
architect – the professional who designs and draws the plans for a building
keep to (V) – follow exactly
necessarily – by necessity
support (N) – a steel or wood beam (long-piece) that holds up a part of the structure
Also see
Also see Scheduled Events | Be going vs. Will | Future Perfect (By the time) | Tenses–Suffixes vs. Auxiliary Verbs
¹ gerund-participle clause (Huddleston 104,1218)
Will vs. Will be
Modal Progressive
Focus on Activity vs. Ongoing Aspect
| FOCUS ON INTENT | |
|---|---|
The modal will is commonly used for stating intent, information, prediction, calculation, or schedule. The focus is on the activity not on the timing |
|
| MODAL | PLAIN FORM VERB |
We will |
arrange a tour for you in the morning. (single event) |
We will |
get you whatever you need for your comfort. |
We will |
serve you breakfast on your balcony. |
We will |
think of a way to fix the problem. |
We can |
make your visit a pleasurable one. |
| FOCUS ON CONTINUOUS ASPECT | |
|---|---|
The progressive form focuses on the ongoing (continuous) aspect of an activity. Will or shall (formal) are more commonly used in the progressive. |
|
| MODAL + BE | VERB+ING¹ |
We will be |
arranging some interesting activities for you during your stay. (ongoing) |
We will be |
supplying you with clean linens daily. ongoing |
We will be |
serving a complimentary breakfast on the patio. temporarily |
We will be |
thinking of better ways to provide you excellent service. ongoing |
*We can be |
making your visit a pleasurable one. |
*not used or awkward sounding
aspect – the form of a verb in grammar that shows whether an action is continuing, or happens always, again and again, or once.
can – has the meaning of option (choice, possibility) or ability (capability) in the sentences above.
complimentary (Adj) – no charge, free, included in the room charge (Do not confuse with complementary as in complementary colors.)
linens (N) – sheets, towels, etc.
Also see Present Tense Scheduled.
¹ gerund-participle clause (Huddleston 104,1218)
Will be going on
Background Activity
Indicating a Background Activity
| IMMEDIATELY AFTER | |
|---|---|
The future tense is also used for time-related activities. Note that when, in this interpretation, means "immediately after".The end-point of one activity is the start time of another activity. |
|
| FUTURE INTENT | RELATIVE START TIME |
We will eat |
when you (will) arrive. |
They will load the car |
when you bring your suitcase downstairs to the lobby. |
| ONGOING IN THE BACKGROUND | |
|---|---|
The progressive form is used with time-related connectors. A background activity is occurring with a main activity receiving the focus. Backgrounding is also called "setting the scene". |
|
| BACKGROUND ACTIVITY | RELATIVE ACTIVITY |
We will be eating |
by the time you arrive. |
They will be loading the car |
while you are bringing your suitcase downstairs to the lobby. The time of your activity is the time that our activity will be going on. |
going on – happening in the background
ongoing – occuring, continuing
Related pages By the time, When / While, After/ Before/ When.
Will you be…
Ask politely about someone's plans
Questioning Someone's Intent
| LESS POLITE |
|---|
Both will and be going to are commonly used to question future intent. The nonprogressive form is understood as slightly less polite because it requests a decision. |
Will you leave tomorrow? (requesting a decision to be made? ) |
Are you going to leave tomorrow? |
Will you charge us if we take something from the mini-bar? (Inquiring about rules, terms policy.) |
Are you going to charge us if we take something from the mini-bar? |
| MORE POLITE |
|---|
The progressive form is used for inquiring politely about future plans. It avoids the interpretation of a request. Instead, it asks for the result of a decision already made. |
Will you be leaving tomorrow? (inquiring about a decision that has already been made) |
Are you going to be leaving tomorrow? |
Will you be charging us if we take something from the mini-bar? (negotiable?) |
Are you going to be charging us if we take something from the mini-bar? |
(Swan 220.3)
(Huddleston 3 §8.3b)
Will Progressive
Future Perfect
Ongoing vs. Completed
| FUTURE PROGRESSIVE |
|---|
By the time is followed by a clause in which the end-point of an activity is the time at which another activity will be ongoing. |
By the time I leave work,
the sun will be setting. |
By the time I arrive,
they will be eating dinner. |
| FUTURE PERFECT |
|---|
By the time is followed by a clause in which the end-point of an activity is the time at which another activity will already be completed. |
By the time I leave work,
the sun will have set. |
By the time I arrive,
they will have eaten dinner. |
See By the time – future perfect and Future Perfect – Passive
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
Will you leave soon? (50% question, 50% request) |
*We will be studying a new subject after we will be finishing this chapter. |
*We will be knowing a lot more about the situation in twenty-four hours. |
Are you going to be going right away? This sounds awkward, but is not incorrect. |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
Will you be leaving soon? This is more easily understood as a question. |
We will be studying a new subject after we finish this chapter. |
We will know a lot more about the situation in twenty-four hours. |
Will you be going right away? |
*Yellow highlighting indicates an example of incorrect usage.
Grammar Notes (Advanced)
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Traditional / ESL and Linguistic Descriptions
| TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR | LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Future Progressive (Azar 4-5) The future progressive expresses an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future. Sometimes there is little or no difference between the future progressive and the simple future. She will be coming soon. / She will come soon. Future Progressive (Swan 220-1)
|
Will + Progressive (Huddleston 3 §10.1) Future progressive expresses:
Will is an auxiliary of mood; be is the auxiliary (fully capable of being inflected) which is complemented by leaving, a gerund-participle. All three elements combine to form a "verb group". |
| REED-KELLOGG SYSTEM | TREE DIAGRAM |
|
Works Cited
- Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
- Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.
- "Sentence diagram: The Reed Kellogg System." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Apr. 2016. wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_diagram#Reed.E2.80.93Kellogg_system.
Practice 1
Making Plans
Read
Mom: We (leave) in a few minutes. Are you coming with us?
Jen: I don't think so. Some friends and I (finish) some homework.
Mom: Here, at the park? What kind of homework (do) here?
Jen:Jen: It's math homework. We (make) estimates of the height of trees?
Mom: And why you (do)?
Jen: We (apply) geometry theorems to problem-solving for our geometry class.
Mom: Okay. I'll be shopping at the supermarket while you (work).
Jen: All right. We should be done should be done by the time you (return).
Mom: Okay. Your friends (join) us for dinner?
Jen: I don't know. I (ask) them, that is, if that's OK with you?
Mom: Sure, I'd enjoying having them come over.
estimate (V) – educated guess
theorems (N) – a statement in mathematics that you can prove by showing that it has been correctly developed from facts
Correct the sentences
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Practice 2
Checking In
Read for Errors
Hotel Receptionist: Good afternoon! How can we help you?
Guest: We'd like to see the rooms you have available for us this weekend.
HR: Certainly. How long are you going to be staying?
Guest: Three nights. Friday through Sunday.
HR: Will you depart Sunday or Monday?
Guest: Monday. We'd also like an ocean view if possible.
HR: I'll see what I can find. Will you be wanting a King or two Queens? (bed sizes)
Guest: We'd prefer a King.
HR: We have an ocean view, King room on the second floor for $250 per night.
Guest: Does that include breakfast?
HR: Yes, that price will be including a complimentary breakfast.
Guest: All right. We'll take that one.
HR: All right. I'll send someone to help you with your luggage.
Guest: That's OK. We can manage them ourselves.
HR: As you wish. You will find the elevators straight ahead and then to your right. We hope you'll have a pleasant stay.
Guest: Thank you very much.
available (Adj) – suitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand
That's OK (expression) – an informal refusal
Correct or Incorrect?
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Practice 3
Jordan Remembering Whitney
Read and Correct
Feb 25 2012 — Jordan Sparks, of American Idol fame, will be doing an interview with Ryan Seacrest tonight. Ms. Sparks was one of the last people to work with Whitney Houston before her untimely death. She will share some of her experiences on the set. Tri-Star Pictures is realeasing Sparkle, the film in which they starred, later in August. Sparkle is a remake of the 1976 film inspired by The Supremes which centered on three singing teenage sisters from Harlem who formed a girl group in the late 1950s.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sparks says that she will not be touring in the immediate future. Instead, she will be promoting her "Jordan Sparks" cosmetic line which will feature facial cosmetics and fragrances. She hopes you will be loving her new fragrance "Because of You". She also will be having a new line of skin care products. Ms. Sparks has graciously given much of her time to charity benefits.
benefit (N) – an event that gives earnings to a charity
charity (N) – an organization that helps individuals who are in need of housing, food or shelter
sparkle (N) – a tiny, shiny flashing object
Edit for errors
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