Grammar · Talking About the Future
Future Continuous
Will be doing or will do? Learn how to describe an action that will already be in progress at a future moment, with the film Gravity.
Grammar › Talking About the Future › Future Continuous
The rule in one sentenceUse will be + -ing for an action that will already be happening at a particular moment in the future, and will + verb for a complete action, a quick decision or a simple prediction.
About the film
Gravity is a 2013 space thriller set high above the Earth. Dr Ryan Stone, a medical engineer on her very first mission, and Matt Kowalski, an experienced astronaut on his last, are working outside their shuttle on the Hubble Space Telescope. The plan sounds simple – for the next few hours they will be repairing the telescope while Houston listens – until mission control warns them that a cloud of debris from a destroyed satellite is heading their way.
What does it do?
Imagine pressing pause on a moment in the future and asking: what will be going on right then? The answer uses will be + -ing. It doesn’t show the start or the end of the action, only its middle, like a single frame taken from a longer film.
Compare it with will + verb, which treats the action as one complete event. Stone will fix the panel means the whole job, from start to finish. At ten o’clock, Stone will be fixing the panel means that at ten she will be busy with it, somewhere in the middle, and the job will not yet be finished.
Notice the time phrases in the first two tiles: this time tomorrow, during the spacewalk. They point to a stretch of time in which the action is already under way. The last two tiles describe single, complete events, so will + verb is the natural choice.
In everyday speech, the long forms are usually shortened:
At three o’clock, Stone will open the panel. (she starts at three)
At three o’clock, Stone will be opening the panel. (she is already busy with it at three)
The clock time is the same, but the picture is different. The first sentence marks the moment the action begins; the second drops us into the middle of it.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
will be + -ing — in progress
Stone will be working on the telescope all morning.
Stone won’t be sleeping much during the mission.
won’t be + verb-ingWill you be talking to Houston during the repair?
Will + subject + be + verb-ingwill + verb — the whole action
Stone will finish the repair soon.
The job won’t take long.
won’t + verbWill Kowalski break the spacewalk record?
Will + subject + verbWhen to use each one
will be + -ing — in progress
will + verb — the whole action
Words that help: in progress or complete?
Time expressions give you a strong clue. Phrases that describe a stretch of time usually go with the first form; phrases that point to a result usually go with the second.
will be + -ing → in progress
will + verb → complete or decided
Common mistakes
❌ This time tomorrow, Stone will fixing the telescope.
✅ This time tomorrow, Stone will be fixing the telescope.
The word be is essential – will alone cannot make the -ing form.
❌ All morning, Kowalski will be test his jetpack.
✅ All morning, Kowalski will be testing his jetpack.
After will be, always add -ing to the main verb.
❌ OK, I’ll be helping you now.
✅ OK, I will help you now.
A quick decision made at the moment of speaking uses will + verb.
❌ At midnight, Stone will be knowing the answer.
✅ At midnight, Stone will know the answer.
Know describes a state, not an activity, so it doesn’t normally take -ing.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
The -ing form makes questions about plans sound more polite. When you ask Will you…? with a simple verb, it can sound like a request or even an order. With will be + -ing, you are only asking about someone’s plans, so the question feels softer and more neutral.
✅ Will you use the radio? (could sound like a request: please use it)
✅ Will you be using the radio? (just asking about your plans)
That is why flight attendants and receptionists love this form: Will you be staying with us tonight?
Practice: choose the right form
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. This time tomorrow, Stone ___ on the telescope.
This time tomorrow points to an action in progress → will be + -ing.
2. OK, I ___ you with the panel.
A decision made right now → will + verb.
3. All morning, Kowalski ___ his jetpack.
All morning describes a stretch of time → will be + -ing.
4. ___ you ___ to Houston during the spacewalk?
The question form keeps be: Will + subject + be + -ing.
5. Stone thinks she ___ the repair in a few minutes.
One complete action → will + verb.
6. At midnight, everyone at Houston ___ the news.
Know is a state verb, so it doesn’t take -ing.
7. While Stone works, Kowalski ___ stories.
After will be, the verb needs -ing.
8. Don’t call at three – we ___ outside the shuttle then.
At three the work will already be in progress → will be + -ing.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Each one describes an action in the middle of happening. Say it out loud too!
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