Unit 10 Will be doing and Will have done

1. Study this example situation:

Tom is a football fan and there is a football match on television this evening. The match begins at 7.30 and ends 9.15. Ann wants to come and see Tom this evening and want to know what time to come:

Ann: Is it all right if a come at about 8.30?

Tom: No, don’t come then. I’ll be watching the match on television.

Ann: Oh. Well, what about 9.30?

Tom: Yes, that’ll be fine. The match will have finished by then.

We use will be doing (future continuous) to say that we will be in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the future. The football match begins at 7.30 and ends at 9.15. So, during this time, for example at 8.30, Tom will be watching the match.

Here are some more examples:

• You’ll recognize her when you see her. She’ll be wearing a yellow hat.
• This time next week I’ll be on holiday. I’ll probably be lying on a beautiful beach.

Compare will be doing with the other continuous forms:

Tom works every morning from 9 o’clock until midday. So:

• At 10 o’clock yesterday he was working. (past continuous)
• It’s 10 o’clock now. He is working. (present continuous)
• At 10 o’clock tomorrow he will be working. (future continuous)

2. You can also use will be doing in another way: to talk about thing which are already planned or decided:

• I’ll be going to the city centre later. Can I get you anything?

With this meaning will be doing is similar to am doing (see unit 4)

• I’m going to the city centre later.

We often use will (you) be –ing? To ask about people’s plans, especially when we want something or want someone to do something:

• Will you be using your bicycle this evening? No, you can take it.
• Will you be passing the post office when you go out? Yes, why?

3. We use will have done (future perfect) to say that something will already have happened before a certain time in the future. Tom’s football match ends at 9.15. So after this time, for example at 9.30, the match will have finished. Here are some more example:

• Next year is Ted and Amy’s 25th wedding anniversary. They will have been married for 25 years. (Now they have been married for 24 years)
• We’re late. I expect the film will already have started by the time we get to cinema.

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