‘Future’ can be a tense that expresses actions that have not yet happened. However, ‘future’ is often expressed in many ways.
Future continuous describes ongoing actions that will happen in the future. The ‘yes/no’ question form follows this structure: Will + subject + be + verb-ing? Will we be seeing you again? listen A question word can be added: What will you be doing in Boston? listen Note that “will” indicates the future, the auxiliary verb “be,” and finally the main verb in its continuous form (verb-ing). […]
future continuous question Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile (EGP), there are three similar points in the category of Future expressions with ‘BE’ at B2 in the English Grammar Profile. 47 ‘be due to’ and, more formally, ‘be to’ talk about things that are scheduled or expected. 53 OBLIGATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS WITH ‘BE TO’ 56 present form of ‘be’
‘BE’ + to infinitive | ‘BE’ + due to infinitive Read More »
Here are some student writing examples of present continuous highlighted with details: I am typing English words right now. PELIC Chinese female level 2 writing class However, we also can interpret from the graph that we aren’t preparing for it yet. PELIC Korean female level 3 writing class I am always falling over one of his toy cars or trucks. PELIC Arabic male level 3 writing class There are at least 30 points to do with the present
Present Continuous Read More »
There are three B2 future perfect continuous points in the EGP that are all very rare. B2 Point 54 is defined as LOOKING BACK FROM A POINT IN THE FUTURE and to emphasise the duration of an activity or event. B2 Point 49 is AFFIRMATIVE with ‘will’. B2 Point 42 is NEGATIVE *Actually we have
will (not) have been verbING Read More »
Collins lists the ‘about to‘ structure under adjectives, pointing out that there is no future tense in English. There are many ways we refer to the future in English. The structure means ‘very soon‘. There are 3 almost identical B2 points in the category of FUTURE in the English Grammar Profile that could all be
BE + about + to-INFINITIVE Read More »
There are 5 formally related grammar points in the English Grammar Profile in the category of FUTURE/perfect simple with ‘will.’ Many of them overlap and at C1 they are very rare and hard to find in corpora. An example from the iWeb corpus of the future perfect form used for a polite assumption about the
will have + PAST PARTICIPLE (future perfect) Read More »
The featured image above shows the multiple proficiency levels that this modal verb is associated with the English Grammar Profile. The very formal nature of this modal verb can be easily seen with a search for collates 5 sides left and right of “shall” in the NOW corpus: 1 BE (VBI ) 211652 2 LAW
SHALL collocations Read More »
The future perfect continuous negative tense allows us to express the absence of an ongoing action leading up to a specific future point. It highlights the non-occurrence or lack of continuity of the action within the given timeframe.
future perfect continuous negative Read More »
By the time is a phrase that is used to connect two actions that happen at different times. It means not later than or when. You can use the present simple with by the time to refer to a future action that will happen before another future action. For example:
By the time we arrive, the movie will have started. (We will arrive in the future, but the movie will start before that.)
By the time you read this, I will be gone. (You will read this in the future, but I will leave before that.)
By the time + present (future meaning) Read More »
A range of adverbs with this future construction is examined.
“You’re going to absolutely love it” (‘going to’ ADVERB INFINITIVE) Read More »
