Ex.52 The future continuous tense

This tense can be used

1) with a point in time to indicate that the action will begin before this time and continue after it.

2) with or without a time to express a future without intention. In this way it is very like the present continuous, but it is not, like the present continuous, restricted in time and is a more detached and casual way of expressing the future. It often implies that the action will occur in the ordinary course of events or as a matter of routine.

(Except when used as in 1, above, this tense can usually be replaced by one of the other future forms, though the exact shade of meaning may then be lost.)

Put the verbs in brackets into the future continuous tense.

1 This time next month I (sit) on a beach.

2 When you arrive I probably (pick) fruit.

3 When we reach England it very likely (rain).

4 In a few days time we (fly) over the Pyrenees.

5 I'll call for her at eight. ~

No, don't; she still (have) breakfast then.

6 I (wait) for you when you come out.

7 When you next see me I (wear) my new dress.

8 My son will be in the sixth form next year. ~

That means that old Dr Adder (teach) him mathematics.

9 I'll give Jack your message. I can do it easily because I (see) him tomorrow. We go to work on the same train.

10 You (do) geometry next term.

11 I'll look out for you at the parade. ~

Do, but I (wear) uniform so you may find it hard to recognize me.

12 We have to do night duty here. I (do) mine next week.

13 In a hundred years' time people (go) to Mars for their holidays.

14 He (use) the car this afternoon.

15 I (see) you again.

16 It's a serious injury but he (walk) again in six weeks.

17 I'll come at three o'clock. ~ Good, I (expect) you.

18 They are pulling down all the old houses in this street. I expect they (pull) down mine in a few years' time.

19 I'd like to see your new flat. ~

Well, come tomorrow, but it (not look) its best, for the painters still (work) on it.

20 Stand there, they (change) the guard in a minute and you'll get a good view.

21 You'd better go back now; your mother (wonder) where you are.

22 In fifty years' time we (live) entirely on pills.

23 What do you think the children (do) when we get home? ~ I expect they (have) their supper.

24 The garden (look) its best next month.

25 It won't be easy to get out of the country. The police (watch) all the ports.

26 What the tide (do) at six tomorrow morning? ~ It (come) in.

27 I've just remembered that I left the bathroom taps on. I expect the water (How) down the stairs by now.

28 You (need) your camera tomorrow or can I borrow it?

29 We've just got to the top in time. The sun (rise) in a minute.

30 Air hostess: We (take off) in a few minutes. Please fasten your safety belts.

31 We'd better go out tomorrow because Mary (practise) the piano all day.

32 Don't ring her up at 6.00; she (put) the children to bed. Ring later.

33 We are making a house-to-house collection of things for the jumble sale. We (come) to your house next week.

34 That football club has lost some of its players. They (look out) for new men.

35 When I get home my dog (sit) at the door waiting for me.

36 Let's go down to the harbour; the fishing boats all (come) in because of the gale.

Ex.53 will + infinitive and the future continuous

See note for previous exercise.

Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate future form, using will + infinitive or the future continuous. (Where alternative forms are possible they will be given in the key.)

1 There is going to be a bus strike. Everyone (walk) to work next week.

2 You've just missed the last train! ~ Never mind, I (walk).

3 I'll ring you tomorrow at six. ~

No, don't ring at six; I (bath) the baby then. Ring later.

4 Mother: Your face is dirty. Child: All right, I (wash) it.

5 Will you have lunch with me on the 24th? ~ I'd love to, but I'm afraid I (do) my exam then.

6 I (work) for Mr Pitt next week as his own secretary will be away.

7 You (have) something to drink, won't you?

8 Why did you take his razor? He (look) for it everywhere tomorrow.

9 I hope you'll do well in the race tomorrow. I (think) of you.

10 Notice on board ship: In the event of an emergency all passengers (assemble) on the boat deck.

11 I don't feel well enough to go to the station to meet him. ~ I (meet) him for you. But how I (recognize) him? ~ He's small and fair, and he (wear) a black and white school cap.

12 I (leave) these flowers at the hospital for you. I (go) there anyway to visit my cousin.

13 You ought to try to get a ticket for the Spectators' Gallery next week; they (debate) international fishing rights.

14 You've left the light on. ~

Oh, so I have. I (go) and turn it off.

15 I've just been appointed assistant at the local library.~

Then you (work) under my sister. She is head librarian there.

16 I want to post this letter but I don't want to go out in the rain. ~ I (post) it for you. I (go) out anyway as I have to take the dog for a walk.

17 The prima ballerina is ill so I expect her understudy (dance) instead.

18 Today is Guy Fawkes' Day; this evening people (let) off fireworks and (make) bonfires in the streets.

19 Military order: Sentries (remain) on duty till they are relieved.

20 This time next Monday I (sit) in a Paris cafe reading Le Figaro. ~ You (not read). You'll be looking at all the pretty girls.

21 Wages have gone up, so I suppose prices (go up) too.

22 It is nearly autumn; soon the leaves (change) colour.

23 Mother (on phone): My son has just burnt his hand very badly. Doctor: I (come) at once.

24 Customer in restaurant: Waiter, this plate is dirty. Waiter: I'm sorry, sir, I (bring) you another.

25 In a few years' time we all (live) in houses heated by solar energy.

26 It's beginning to get dark; the street lights (go on) in a few minutes.

27 We (not play) poker at the party tonight; our hostess doesn't approve of cards.

28 Let's wait here; the swing bridge (open) in a minute to let that ship through.

29 Guest: May I use your phone to ring for a taxi?

Hostess: Oh, there's no need for that; my son (drive) you home.

30 Come on deck; we (enter) harbour in a few minutes.

31 Before you leave the office you (hand) the keys of the safe to Mr Pitt. Do you understand? ~ Yes, sir.

32 Are you nearly ready? Our guests (arrive) any minute.

33 Loudspeaker announcement: The ship (leave) in a few minutes and all persons not travelling are asked to go ashore.

34 Now that the parking regulations have become stricter, more people (use) public transport and (leave) their cars at home.

35 I've got rats in my basement and I don't know how to get rid of them. ~ I (bring) my dog round whenever you like. He (catch) them for you.

36 I'm afraid I've just broken your goldfish bowl. ~ Never mind, I (put) the goldfish in the bath.

Ex.54 won't + infinitive and the future continuous negative

Won't + infinitive (except when used as part of the ordinary future simple, shall/will) usually implies that the subject refuses to perform a certain action. The negative future continuous tense merely states that a certain action will not take place.

Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate future form, using won't + infinitive or the future continuous negative. (Where other future forms are also possible this will be noted in the key.)

1 I don't like that man and I (not help) him.

2 He (not meet) her, because they will be in different places.

3 My husband (not cut) down the tree. He says that it is perfectly all right as it is.

4 My husband (not cut) the hedge for some time, because he's got a lot of other jobs to do first.

5 Tom (not come) to our party, because he will be away on that date.

6 Peter says that he (not come) to our party. He doesn't approve of parties.

7 She says that she (not lend) me the book, because I never give books back.

8 Mr Pitt (not speak) at the meeting tonight, because he has unexpectedly had to go to hospital.

9 I'll work under anyone except my brother. I (not work) under him.

10 We'll be in the same firm, but we (not work) together, because we'll be in different departments.

11 I (not have) that boy in my class. He is far too noisy.

12 I (not teach) you next week, as I have to go to Paris.

13 He is so angry with his sister that he (not speak) to her.

14 I'll give your message to my sister when I write; but I (not write) for some time, as I only write once a month and I posted a letter to her yesterday.

15 I (not feed) your dog again. He always tries to bite me when I come near him.

16 They were very rude to me. I (not go) there again.

17 He said, 'I (not paint) you in that dress. It does not suit you.' 181 (not take) any photographs for some time because my camera is being repaired.

19 I (not borrow) his van again. The brakes don't work properly.

20 That boy (not wash) his face. He likes being dirty.

21 You can have the car tomorrow if you like. I (not use) it as I'll be far too busy to go out.

22 She says that she (not send) the child to school, no matter what we say. She thinks it is far better to educate children at home.

23 He says he (not play) for them again, because they aren't giving him enough money.

24 She (not sing) at the next concert, because she has had to go home suddenly.

25 I (not play) cards with you again. You always cheat.

26 She (not take) part in the bridge tournament, because she'll be away then.

27 I (not eat) any more of this; I feel queer already.

28 I (not eat) curry again for a long time, because I am going to stay in a house where no one knows how to cook it.

29 He says that he (not ride) that mare again, because she's dangerous.

30 Tom (not ride) in tomorrow's race, because he is too young. They don't allow riders under sixteen.

31 Whisky is absolutely necessary to me and I (not give) it up.

32 Jack (not drink) whisky this time next week, because he'll be in hospital and they won't give it to him there.

33 I (not open) the window. I dislike fresh air.

34 There is something on his mind, but he (not tell) me what it is.

35 The cat (not eat) fish so I have to buy meat for him.

36 He (not wear) uniform when you see him, because he'll be on leave then, and they don't wear uniform when they are on leave.