Future Continuous: Temporary Habits

1 The Big Idea

A Temporary Routine in the Future

📘 Level 4 — Future Continuous — Lesson 3

Sometimes you repeat an action again and again for a short time. The routine will end. Use will be + the -ing form.

Next month, I will be taking the bus to work every day. (My car is in the shop.)
This summer, she will be working at a cafe every weekend. (A summer job.)
(The routine repeats. It is temporary.)

Lesson 61: a full period	This lesson: a repeated routine
All week, I will be working. (Nonstop.)	This month, I will be working every night. (Each night.)
All summer, she will be traveling.	This summer, she will be traveling every weekend.

A routine that repeats for a short future time → will be + verb-ing.
The form is the same as in lessons 60 and 61. The meaning is a temporary habit.

2 Signal Words

Two Kinds of Words

Look for two things. A word for repeating, and a word for a short time.

Next month, I will be taking the bus every day.
While our car is in the shop, we will be walking every morning.
For two weeks, he will be working every night.
This summer, she will be working every weekend.
While you are away, I will be watering your plants every day.

Repeat words: every day, every morning, every week, three times a week. Short-time words: this month, for two weeks, during the course, while you are away.

3 Will or Will Be

A New Habit or a Temporary Routine

A new habit lasts. Use will + the base verb. A temporary routine ends. Use will be + -ing.

Will + base verb (a lasting habit)	Will be + -ing (a temporary routine)
From January, I will run every morning.	This month, I will be running every morning.
After the move, we will take the bus to work.	While our car is in the shop, we will be taking the bus to work.
After she moves, she will cook dinner every night.	During her mother’s visit, she will be cooking dinner every night.
He will work nights from now on.	He will be working nights for two weeks.
Starting tomorrow, I will drink only water.	For the next month, I will be drinking only water.

4 Negatives and Questions

Saying No and Asking

The form is the same as in lessons 60 and 61. Here are examples with routines.

Negatives

I won’t be taking the bus next month.
She won’t be working every weekend.
We won’t be eating out every night.
He won’t be staying late this week.
They won’t be leaving early every day.

Questions

How will you be getting to work?
Will she be practicing English every day?
What will you be eating this month?
How often will you be running?
Who will be running the meetings?

5 Common Mistakes

Watch Out For These

❌ Mistake 1 — Leaving out be

✗ Next month, I will taking the bus every day.

✗ This summer, she will working every weekend.

✓ Next month, I will be taking the bus every day.

✓ This summer, she will be working every weekend.

The form is will be + -ing. Do not forget be.

❌ Mistake 2 — Base verb after will be

✗ This summer, she will be work every day.

✗ For two weeks, we will be eat out.

✓ This summer, she will be working every day.

✓ For two weeks, we will be eating out.

After will be, always use the -ing form.

❌ Mistake 3 — -ing on a state verb

✗ This month, I will be needing a ride every day.

✗ For two weeks, we will be wanting coffee every morning.

✓ This month, I will need a ride every day.

✓ For two weeks, we will want coffee every morning.

State verbs such as need, want, and know do not use -ing, even for a routine.

❌ Mistake 4 — Wrong question form

✗ Will you taking the bus every day?

✗ How often you will be exercising?

✓ Will you be taking the bus every day?

✓ How often will you be exercising?

Put will before the subject. Then add be and the -ing form.

6 Practice

Try It Yourself

Exercise A — Will or Will Be?

Read the situation. Click the form you need.

1

From now on, you run every morning. It is your new habit.

✓ Correct — It is a new, lasting habit. Use will + base verb.
2

For two weeks, you take the bus every day. Your car is in the shop.

✓ Correct — It is a temporary routine. Use will be + -ing.
3

After the move, you walk to work every day. It is your new routine.

✓ Correct — It is a new, lasting habit. Use will + base verb.
4

Starting tomorrow, you drink only water. You want to change for good.

✓ Correct — It is a new, lasting habit. Use will + base verb.
5

This summer, you work at a cafe every weekend. It is a summer job.

✓ Correct — It is a temporary routine. Use will be + -ing.
6

For the next month, you eat lunch at your desk every day. It is a busy month.

✓ Correct — It is a temporary routine. Use will be + -ing.
7

When you get your new house, you cook at home every night. It is your new habit.

✓ Correct — It is a new, lasting habit. Use will + base verb.
8

While your sister visits, you cook dinner every night.

✓ Correct — It is a temporary routine. Use will be + -ing.

Exercise B — Complete the Sentence

Type the correct form of will be + -ing for the verb given.

1

Next month, I the bus to work every day. (take)
2

This summer, she at a cafe every weekend. (work)
3

While our car is in the shop, we to school every day. (walk)
4

For two weeks, he extra work every night. (do)
5

During the course, I English every morning. (practice)
6

While you are away, I your plants every day. (water)
7

This month, the kids lunch at school every day. (eat)
8

For the next week, they home early every morning. (leave)

Exercise C — Make It Negative

Type the negative form with won’t be + -ing for the verb given.

1

Next month, I the bus. My car will be fixed. (not take)
2

This summer, she at the cafe. She has a new job. (not work)
3

While you are here, we out every night. (not eat)
4

For two weeks, he late. The project is done. (not stay)
5

During the break, I English every day. (not practice)
6

While I’m away, the neighbors the plants every day. (not water)
7

This month, the kids the bus. I will drive them. (not take)
8

For the next week, they early. Class starts at 10. (not leave)

Exercise D — Write the Question

Type the missing words of speaker B’s question. Use the words given.

1

A: My car is in the shop for a week.
B: How to work? (you / get)
2

A: I’m on a diet this month.
B: What every day? (you / eat)
3

A: Tom starts a night job next week.
B: When ? (he / sleep)
4

A: Anna has a new class this fall.
B: English every day? (she / practice)
5

A: We visit Rome for two weeks.
B: Where every night? (you / eat)
6

A: The kids are home all summer.
B: outside every day? (they / play)
7

A: My boss is away this month.
B: Who the meetings? (run)
8

A: I’m training for a race.
B: How often ? (you / run)

Exercise E — Choose the Form

Click the form that completes the sentence.

1

This month, I the bus every day.

✓ Correct — A temporary routine uses will be + -ing.
2

While you are away, I your plants every day.

✓ Correct — Do not forget be: will be + -ing.
3

From now on, I every morning. It is my new habit.

✓ Correct — A new, lasting habit uses will + base verb.
4

She at a cafe this summer.

✓ Correct — After will be, use the -ing form.
5

you be taking the bus every day?

✓ Correct — Make the question with will. Put will before the subject.
6

After the move, we to work. It is our new routine.

✓ Correct — A new, lasting routine uses will + base verb.
7

For two weeks, they early.

✓ Correct — Keep be in the negative: won’t be + -ing.
8

How often this month?

✓ Correct — In a question: will + subject + be + -ing.

7 Choose the Right Sentence

Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8

Which sentence shows a temporary routine?

B is correct. Next month is a temporary period. The action repeats every day. Use will be + -ing.

Question 2 of 8

Select the correct sentence.

A is correct. Use will be + the -ing form.

Question 3 of 8

Select the correct negative.

A is correct. Use won’t be + the -ing form.

Question 4 of 8

Select the correct question.

B is correct. Put will before the subject. Then add be and the -ing form.

Question 5 of 8

Which sentence is a new, lasting habit?

C is correct. From now on starts a lasting habit. Use will + base verb.

Question 6 of 8

Select the sentence that is incorrect.

C is correct. Need is a state verb. Do not use -ing.

Question 7 of 8

Which phrase shows a temporary future period?

D is correct. For the next two weeks has an end. The routine is temporary.

Question 8 of 8

A: “How will you get to work this month?” Select the best reply.

D is correct. This month is temporary. Use will be + -ing.

8 Summary

Future Continuous: Temporary Habits A routine that repeats for a short future time uses will be + verb-ing.

Idea: a routine that repeats for a short time and then ends.
Form: will be + verb-ing. Negative: won’t be + verb-ing.
Signal words: a repeat word (every day) and a short-time word (this month, for two weeks, while you are away).
Will: a new, lasting habit. Will be: a temporary routine.
State verbs (need, want, know) do not use -ing.
Remember: always use be, and always use the -ing form.

✓ Mark this lesson complete

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