USE 3 Parallel actions in the future

USE 2 Interrupted action in the future

REMEMBER

In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In the Future Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.

Examples:

• Tonight at 6 PM, I will eat dinner.
  I am going to start eating at 6 PM.
• Tonight at 6 PM, I will be eating dinner.
  I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 PM.

Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

• I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.
• I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.
• I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.
• He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.

Notice in the examples above that the interruptions (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

• I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.
• Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
• While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.

Notice "is reading" because of the time clause containing "while." (See Explanation Below)

USE 4 Polite questions about somebody’s plans for future

We use the Future Continuous when we ask politely about somebody’s plans for the near future.

§ Will you be finishing with this book?

§ Will you be going to the supermarket? Can you by me some tea?

Дата добавления: 2014-10-31