Learning English

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.