Back to English

The future continuous tense expresses two actions that are going to happen later, and there is an interruption. The interrupted action might continue later.

Future Continnuous timeline

Interrupted actions in the future

SCENARIO:
You’re now in school. Ahmad tells you that he plans to visit you later in the evening and he asks if you are free at that time.  So, you can say:

1. I will be mowing the lawn when you come, so I don’t think that’s a good idea. OR
2. I’ll be watching “Mission Impossible” when you come. Perhaps we could it watch together.

In Example #1, the sentence means that when you come to my house, you’ll see me mowing the lawn, and I might continue mowing the lawn after seeing you. Take note that you have to use the phrase “will be” for this tense, and the verb that follows must have the “-ing” suffix. Notice that the word “when” is used in both sentences to indicate that an action is interrupted by another action in the future.

The past continuous or past progressive tense is used to express actions that happen in the past and continue in the past till now.

Past Continuous timeline

(a) Interrupted actions

Two actions happen in the past. The first action is interrupted by the second. The word when and while are used to show interruption. Take note that the second action requires a verb in the past tense form.

1. The kids were playing when their teacher called them in. – [Now, the kids are in class.]
2. It started to rain while we were walking in the park. – [Now, we are not walking anymore.]

(b) Parallel actions

Simultaneous actions that happened in the past.

1. The baby was crying while his mother was cooking in the kitchen.
2. The man was slouching on the couch, (was) eating his chips and (was) watching television when I came.

Take note that in Example #2, the verb “was“ is omitted from eating and watching. This is because both these verbs have the same function in the sentence, and they refer to the same man. Observe:

• The man was slouching on the couch while the woman was eating her chips and (was) watching television when I came.

See the difference?

The present continuous tense is also known as the present progressive tense. Continuous actions always begin some time in the past and continues in the present and maybe in the future, too.

Present Continuous timeline

(a) Now, present, current on-going actions

1. They are washing the car (now).
2. I am driving (now), so I can’t talk over the phone.

(b) Longer continuous actions but not doing them at this moment

1. I’m studying to be a doctor. 
2. I’m reading another Harry Potter series. 
3. He is learning to play the guitar.

In all the three examples above, the speaker could be talking to you in the park (for instance).  He is not studying, reading or learning at that time. Here, all three actions are part of a longer, continuous process.

(c) Future actions

Future actions can also be expressed in the present continuous:

1. My sister is attending her graduation soon.
2. Mom and dad are leaving for Malaysia in a month’s time.
3. They are watching football with their friends tonight.

Future actions are expressed by using the future tense. There are two verbs commonly associated with this tense:

• will
• be going to

Is there a difference between the two? Yes, but the difference is not clearly defined.

Simple Future timeline

(a) “will” is used to express promises or guarantees

1. Don’t worry, I will be on time.
2. You will receive a salary of $1,600 once you start work.

(b) “going to” is used to express plans

1. They are going to have a picnic this weekend. – It’s just a plan; it might not happen.
2. Our neighbour is going to paint her house next year.

(c) “will” and “going to” are used to make predictions

1. I think it is going to rain in a while. or I think it will rain in a while.
2. It is going to be a baby boy. or It will be a baby boy.

As the name implies, the simple past tense is used to express actions that happened in the past.

Simple Past timeline

Past actions

1. I was at the mall at 5:00PM. - [It's 6:00PM now, and you're somewhere else.]
2. The children were so excited that they jumped when they saw the new bus.
3. They were at the park when you called.

Words in red are verbs. However, unlike the simple present tense, the verb forms vary.

• was, were: auxiliary or helping verbs; also known as verb “to be”
• jumped, saw, called: action verbs

Most action verbs in the past tense form contain the “-ed” suffix. Verbs with “-ed” are called Regular Verbs. (e.g: jumped, called)

There are also many other verbs in the past tense form that do not have the “-ed” suffix. Instead their spellings change. These verbs are called Irregular Verbs. (e.g.: saw)