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1 The Big Idea
Plans in the Calendar
📘 Level 4 — Future Continuous — Lesson 4

Some future things are already in your calendar. They will simply happen. Use will be + the -ing form to say them in a calm, polite way.

I will be meeting a client on Thursday. (It is in my calendar.)
She will be speaking at the conference on Friday.
(The plan is calm and matter-of-fact.)
Lesson 21: Present ContinuousThis lesson: Future Continuous
I’m meeting a client on Thursday.I’ll be meeting a client on Thursday.
She is speaking on Friday.She will be speaking on Friday.
A plan in the calendar → will be + verb-ing. A polite question → Will you be + verb-ing?
Both forms are correct. The Future Continuous sounds calm and polite.
2 Calendar Plans
Things That Will Simply Happen

Use it for meetings, trips, visits, and other planned events. A time word often tells you when.

  • I will be meeting a client on Thursday.
  • She will be speaking at the conference on Friday.
  • We will be staying at the Grand Hotel next week.
  • He will be flying to New York on Tuesday.
  • My parents will be visiting us this weekend.

You can also explain why you are not free. I’ll be working late on Wednesday, so I can’t come.

3 Polite Questions
Will You Be…?

Will you be + verb-ing asks about someone’s plans. It sounds gentle. Will you + base verb asks the person to do something. That is a request.

  • Will you be coming to the party?
  • Will you be using the car tonight?
  • Will you be working on Saturday?
  • Will you be staying for dinner?
  • What will you be doing on Sunday?
Will you + base verb (a request)Will you be + -ing (a question about plans)
Will you come to dinner? (You ask them to come.)Will you be coming to dinner? (Is it in your plan?)
Will you use the car tonight? (You ask them to use it.)Will you be using the car tonight? (Is it in use?)
Will you work on Saturday? (You ask them to work.)Will you be working on Saturday? (Are you busy?)
Will you stay for the party? (You ask them to stay.)Will you be staying for the party? (Is that your plan?)
Will you bring the files? (You ask them to bring them.)Will you be bringing the files? (Is that your plan?)
4 Negatives and Questions
Saying No and Asking for Details

Use won’t be + -ing to say a plan is not happening. Use a question word to ask for details.

Negatives
  • I won’t be coming to the dinner.
  • She won’t be going to the meeting.
  • We won’t be staying at a hotel.
  • He won’t be working on Tuesday.
  • They won’t be flying to Rome.
Questions with a question word
  • What will you be doing on Saturday?
  • When will you be flying?
  • Where will she be staying?
  • How will they be getting there?
  • Who will be driving him to the airport?
5 Common Mistakes
Watch Out For These
❌ Mistake 1 — A request when you want to ask about plans
✗ Will you use the car tonight?
✗ Will you work on Saturday?
✓ Will you be using the car tonight?
✓ Will you be working on Saturday?
Will you + base verb sounds like a request. To ask about a plan, use Will you be + -ing.
❌ Mistake 2 — Leaving out be
✗ I will meeting a client on Thursday.
✗ She will speaking on Friday.
✓ I will be meeting a client on Thursday.
✓ She will be speaking on Friday.
The form is will be + -ing. Do not forget be.
❌ Mistake 3 — Base verb after will be
✗ We will be stay at the Grand Hotel.
✗ He will be fly to New York.
✓ We will be staying at the Grand Hotel.
✓ He will be flying to New York.
After will be, always use the -ing form.
❌ Mistake 4 — Wrong word order in questions
✗ Will be you coming?
✗ What you will be doing on Saturday?
✓ Will you be coming?
✓ What will you be doing on Saturday?
Put will first, then the subject, then be and the -ing form.
6 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Request or Plan Question?

Read the question. Click what it does.

  • 1
    Will you close the door?
    ✓ Correct — This asks the person to do something. It is a request.
  • 2
    Will you be coming to the party?
    ✓ Correct — This asks about the person’s plan. It uses will you be + -ing.
  • 3
    Will you give me a ride?
    ✓ Correct — This asks the person to do something. It is a request.
  • 4
    Will you call Tom now?
    ✓ Correct — This asks the person to do something. It is a request.
  • 5
    Will you be using the car tonight?
    ✓ Correct — This asks about the person’s plan. It uses will you be + -ing.
  • 6
    Will you be working on Saturday?
    ✓ Correct — This asks about the person’s plan. It uses will you be + -ing.
  • 7
    Will you bring the files?
    ✓ Correct — This asks the person to do something. It is a request.
  • 8
    Will you be staying for dinner?
    ✓ Correct — This asks about the person’s plan. It uses will you be + -ing.
Exercise B — Complete the Sentence

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

  • 1
    I a client on Thursday. (meet)
  • 2
    She at the conference on Friday. (speak)
  • 3
    We at the Grand Hotel. (stay)
  • 4
    He to New York on Tuesday. (fly)
  • 5
    They lunch together on Monday. (have)
  • 6
    I late on Wednesday, so I can’t come. (work)
  • 7
    My parents us this weekend. (visit)
  • 8
    The kids their grandparents on Sunday. (see)
Exercise C — Make It Negative

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

  • 1
    I with you on Friday. I’m working late. (not eat)
  • 2
    She to the meeting. She’s away. (not come)
  • 3
    We at a hotel. We have a friend’s house. (not stay)
  • 4
    He on Tuesday. He’s on vacation. (not work)
  • 5
    They to Rome. They changed the plan. (not fly)
  • 6
    I the car tonight. You can take it. (not use)
  • 7
    The kids to school on Monday. It’s a holiday. (not go)
  • 8
    Anna us this weekend. She is sick. (not visit)
Exercise D — Write the Question

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

  • 1
    A: I’m busy this weekend.
    B: What on Saturday? (you / do)
  • 2
    A: I have a ticket to Boston.
    B: When ? (you / fly)
  • 3
    A: Mia has a trip next week.
    B: Where ? (she / stay)
  • 4
    A: Dinner is at 7 on Friday.
    B: with us? (you / eat)
  • 5
    A: The Smiths are in town this weekend.
    B: at a hotel? (they / stay)
  • 6
    A: I want to ask about Thursday.
    B: Sure. on Thursday? (you / work)
  • 7
    A: My brother has a flight on Monday.
    B: Who him to the airport? (drive)
  • 8
    A: There is a party on Saturday night.
    B: to the party? (you / come)
Exercise E — Choose the Form

Click the form that completes the sentence.

  • 1
    you be coming to the party?
    ✓ Correct — Put will before the subject.
  • 2
    I a client on Thursday.
    ✓ Correct — Do not forget be: will be + -ing.
  • 3
    She at the conference on Friday.
    ✓ Correct — After will be, use the -ing form.
  • 4
    Will you the car tonight?
    ✓ Correct — In a question: will + subject + be + -ing.
  • 5
    I’m sorry. I to the dinner.
    ✓ Correct — Keep be in the negative: won’t be + -ing.
  • 6
    What on Saturday?
    ✓ Correct — In a question: will + subject + be + -ing.
  • 7
    They lunch together on Monday.
    ✓ Correct — After will be, use the -ing form.
  • 8
    My parents us this weekend.
    ✓ Correct — Do not forget be: will be + -ing.
7 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8
Which question asks about a plan?
Question 2 of 8
Which question is a request?
Question 3 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 4 of 8
Select the correct negative.
Question 5 of 8
Select the correct question.
Question 6 of 8
A: “Can you come on Friday?” Select the best reply.
Question 7 of 8
Select the sentence that is incorrect.
Question 8 of 8
Which sentence explains why you cannot come?
8 Summary
Future Continuous: Plans and Polite Questions A plan in the calendar uses will be + verb-ing. A polite question uses Will you be + verb-ing?
  • Idea: a plan already in the calendar will simply happen.
  • Form: will be + verb-ing. Negative: won’t be + verb-ing.
  • Polite question: Will you be coming? What will you be doing?
  • Request: Will you + base verb asks the person to do something.
  • Explain a conflict: I’ll be working late, so I can’t come.
  • Remember: always use be, and always use the -ing form.
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