B2 · Intermédiaire supérieur Chapitre 13

Looking Ahead: Advanced Future Forms

6 Règles totales
58 exemples
7 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of temporal precision and talk about the future like a native speaker.

  • Describe actions in progress at specific future moments using the Future Continuous.
  • Express formal schedules and imminent events with professional accuracy.
  • Calculate long-term durations and revisit past intentions that never happened.
Don't just predict the future—describe it with vivid detail.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Ready to talk about the future with amazing precision? This chapter unlocks natural ways to discuss ongoing actions, like what you'll *be doing* next weekend, and durations leading up to future moments. You'll sound incredibly confident and advanced!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to describe your ongoing activities at a specific time tomorrow using 'will be -ing'.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to distinguish between informal and formal future schedules using 'be due to' and 'be about to'.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to express the duration of an action leading up to a future point using the Future Perfect Continuous.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to explain past plans that changed using 'was going to' and 'was about to'.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Mastering the nuances of future tense in English is a hallmark of truly advanced learners. If you're at the B2 level, you've likely moved past the basic will and going to, and you're ready to unlock a level of precision that will make your English sound incredibly natural and sophisticated. This chapter,
English looking ahead: advanced future forms,
is designed to equip you with the tools to express complex future ideas with confidence.
You'll discover how to paint vivid pictures of ongoing actions at a specific time in the future using the Future Continuous, making your descriptions much more dynamic. We'll also dive into ways to talk about imminent events, whether it's something casual that’s about to happen or a more dramatic, on-the-verge moment with be about to and be on the point of. For those scheduled events and professional contexts, be due to and be set to will add a layer of official precision to your speech.
And for the ultimate in future foresight, we'll explore the Future Perfect Continuous, a powerful tense that emphasizes duration leading up to a future milestone. By integrating these advanced future forms into your communication, you'll not only avoid sounding repetitive but also convey your thoughts with the clarity and naturalness of a native speaker. Get ready to elevate your B2 English grammar and truly sound amazing when discussing what's next!

How This Grammar Works

These advanced future forms allow you to convey detailed information about future events that simple will or going to cannot. They add layers of timing, expectation, and emphasis.
The Future Continuous (will be -ing) describes an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. Think of it like taking a snapshot of a future moment and seeing what's happening. For example:
This time next year, I will be living in London.
You're not just saying you'll live there; you're imagining yourself in the middle of the experience.
It's perfect for setting a scene.
For immediate futures, we have be about to and be on the point of. Be about to is informal and indicates something is happening very, very soon: "Hold on, I'm about to send that email.
Be on the point of is more formal and often used for more significant or dramatic imminent events, suggesting a critical juncture:
The negotiations were on the point of breaking down when a new proposal emerged." Both express urgency but with different shades of formality and impact.
When discussing scheduled or planned events, especially those that are official or arranged, be due to and be set to come into play. Be due to implies an official timetable or expectation:
The flight is due to depart at 3 PM.
Be set to suggests that something has been prepared or arranged to happen, often with a sense of inevitability or high probability:
The company is set to announce its new strategy next week.
These are vital for professional and formal communication.
Finally, the Future Perfect Continuous is our duration tense. It focuses on how long an action will *have been happening* up to a specific point in the future. It highlights the ongoing nature of an activity leading up to a future deadline or event. For instance:
By next May, I will have been studying English for five years.
This tells us not just that you'll still be studying, but the total accumulated time of study *up to that point*.
These forms allow for incredible precision, moving you far beyond basic future statements.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Confusing Future Continuous with Simple Future for specific future actions.
✗ At 8 PM, I will eat dinner. (Implies starting dinner at 8 PM)
✓ At 8 PM, I will be eating dinner. (Implies being in the *middle* of eating dinner at 8 PM)
*Explanation:* The Future Continuous emphasizes the action's ongoing nature at a particular future moment.
  1. 1Using 'will' for officially scheduled events instead of more precise forms.
✗ The conference will begin at 9 AM tomorrow.
✓ The conference is due to begin at 9 AM tomorrow. / The conference is set to begin at 9 AM tomorrow.
*Explanation:* 'Be due to' and 'be set to' add a layer of official scheduling or pre-arrangement that 'will' often lacks, making your statement more precise and formal.
  1. 1Incorrectly forming or using the Future Perfect Continuous when duration is key.
✗ By the end of the month, I will have finished my project for three weeks.
✓ By the end of the month, I will have been working on this project for three weeks.
*Explanation:* The Future Perfect Continuous specifically highlights the *duration* of an ongoing action leading up to a future point, emphasizing how long something has already been happening.

Real Conversations

A

A

Hey, what are you doing next Saturday evening?
B

B

Oh, I can't meet up then. I'll be taking my final exam online. I'll probably be on the point of collapse from stress!
A

A

Oh no, good luck!
A

A

Did you hear about the new product launch?
B

B

Yes, I read about it. The company is set to unveil it at the tech fair, isn't it? It's due to happen on the 15th.
A

A

That's right! By then, they will have been developing it for almost two years.
A

A

Are you ready for your interview?
B

B

Almost! I'm just about to leave the house. I'm so nervous!
A

A

You'll do great!

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use 'will be -ing' instead of a simple future with 'will' or 'going to'?

Use 'will be -ing' (Future Continuous) when you want to describe an action that will be *in progress* at a specific future time, or to talk about future arrangements as part of a general plan. It paints a picture of what's happening at that moment.

Q

What's the main difference between 'be about to' and 'be on the point of'?

'Be about to' is more common and informal, indicating immediate future action ("I'm about to call you"). 'Be on the point of' is more formal or dramatic, suggesting a critical moment or being right at the verge of a significant event (

The discovery was on the point of changing everything
).

Q

Can 'be set to' and 'be due to' be used interchangeably?

Often, but with a subtle difference. Both indicate scheduled events. 'Be due to' often implies an official or expected time based on a schedule (

The train is due to arrive
). 'Be set to' can imply a higher degree of certainty, preparation, or a predetermined plan, often with an emphasis on the outcome (
The team is set to win the championship
).

Q

Why is the Future Perfect Continuous considered an advanced tense?

It requires combining concepts of duration, completion, and future timing. It's advanced because it allows you to express how long an ongoing action *will have lasted* by a specific future point, showing not just an action, but its cumulative time up to that moment.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these advanced future forms constantly to add naturalness and precision to their speech. For instance, the Future Continuous is very common in everyday planning ("This evening, I'll be working late"). While 'be about to' is widely used informally for immediate actions, 'be on the point of' is less frequent in casual conversation and often appears in more formal or literary contexts to heighten drama.
Be due to and be set to are standard in news, business, and official announcements, making them essential for a professional tone. Mastering these allows B2 learners to sound much more integrated into diverse English-speaking environments.

Exemples clés (2)

1

By 6 PM, she `will have been waiting` for an hour.

À 18h, cela fera une heure qu'elle attend.

Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée
2

When you arrive, I `will have been working` on this report for three hours.

Quand tu arriveras, cela fera trois heures que je travaille sur ce rapport.

Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

Pense à 'en plein milieu de'

Visualise toujours une action qui a déjà commencé au moment dont tu parles. C'est comme un cliché instantané du futur :
This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Tokyo.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Continu (will be -ing)
💡

Pense à l'instant T !

Associe toujours ces structures à des événements qui vont littéralement arriver dans quelques instants. Si ce n'est pas pour tout de suite, change de temps :
The train is about to depart.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Imminent : Être Sur Le Point De & Être Au Bord De
💡

Vérifie bien ton verbe 'be' !

Accorde toujours 'to be' (am, is, are) avec ton sujet. On entend souvent 'They is due to arrive', mais c'est bien :
They are due to arrive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur programmé (être dû à, être prêt à)
💡

Repère les marqueurs temporels

Des expressions comme by the time, for ou since sont tes meilleurs indices pour savoir si tu dois utiliser ce temps. C'est ce qui définit le point de vue futur.
By the time you arrive, I will have been cooking for ages.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée

Vocabulaire clé (7)

commence to start (formal) imminent about to happen duration the length of time something lasts milestone a significant stage or event anticipate to expect or predict provisional temporary or subject to change schedule a plan for carrying out a process

Real-World Preview

rocket

The Big Product Launch

Review Summary

  • will + be + [verb]-ing
  • be + about to + [verb]
  • be + due to + [verb]
  • will + have + been + [verb]-ing
  • was/were + going to + [verb]
  • When/As soon as + Present Simple/Perfect

Erreurs courantes

In English, we never use 'will' in a time clause starting with when, as soon as, or until. Use the present simple instead.

Wrong: I will call you when I will arrive at the hotel.
Correct: I will call you when I arrive at the hotel.

The Future Perfect Continuous requires the '-ing' form to show ongoing duration. 'Worked' is for the Future Perfect Simple.

Wrong: Next year, I will have been worked here for ten years.
Correct: Next year, I will have been working here for ten years.

To talk about a specific past plan that changed, use 'was going to'. 'Would' is usually for hypothetical situations or past habits.

Wrong: I would go to the party, but I got sick.
Correct: I was going to go to the party, but I got sick.

Règles dans ce chapitre (6)

1

Futur Continu (will be -ing)

B2
Maîtrise le Future Continuous pour décrire des actions dynamiques en cours avec assurance grâce à will be, -ing et ongoing action.
This time tomorrow, we will be flying over the Atl...
12 exemples
2

Futur Imminent : Être Sur Le Point De & Être Au Bord De

B2
Ces expressions sont tes meilleures alliées pour parler de ce qui arrive RIGHT NOW ou dans les FEW SECONDS à venir !
I'm about to finish my coffee, then I'll be ready.
12 exemples
3

Futur programmé (être dû à, être prêt à)

B2
Utilise be due to ou be set to pour les événements déjà calés dans l'agenda, ça donne un côté hyper pro et officiel ! be due to, be set to.
The train `is due to depart` at 6:30 AM.
12 exemples
4

Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée

B2
Ce temps met en lumière la durée d'une action qui se poursuit jusqu'à un moment futur précis. Utilise les badges duration, ongoing et future point pour t'en souvenir.
By 6 PM, she `will have been waiting` for an hour.
12 exemples
5

Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To

B2
Future in the past describes what was expected, planned, or predicted from a past point of view. Use was/were going to, would, was about to, and was due to.
5 exemples
6

Future Time Clauses: When I Do vs. When I Have Done

B2
After future time conjunctions (when, before, after, until, as soon as, once), use present simple or present perfect — never will. Use present perfect when one action must be completed before the next.
5 exemples

Next Steps

You've just unlocked some of the most sophisticated structures in the English language. Your ability to express time is now at a high-intermediate level. Keep practicing these in your daily conversations!

Write your 5-year career plan using at least 4 different future forms.

Listen to a news broadcast and identify instances of 'is due to' or 'is set to'.

Continue to: Regrets, souhaits et exigences : l’art de la nuance

Pratique rapide (10)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte du Future Perfect Continuous.

By next year, I ___ (learn) English for five years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: will have been learning
L'expression 'for five years' indique une durée menant à 'next year', donc le Future Perfect Continuous est requis.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

The meeting ___ to start in five minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is about
Le sujet 'meeting' est au singulier, donc on utilise 'is'. La structure complète est 'is about to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Imminent : Être Sur Le Point De & Être Au Bord De

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: When I see him, I'll talk.
Standard time clause structure.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future Time Clauses: When I Do vs. When I Have Done

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

I ___ (go) to the party, but I got sick.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was going to go
It was a past plan.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

The concert ____ to start at 7 PM.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is set
Le sujet 'The concert' est au singulier, donc on utilise 'is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur programmé (être dû à, être prêt à)

Fill in the correct verb form.

When I ___ (arrive), I will call you.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: arrive
Present simple is required in time clauses.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future Time Clauses: When I Do vs. When I Have Done

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

She is on the point to leave for her interview.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is on the point of leaving for her interview.
Avec 'on the point of', on utilise toujours la forme en -ing (gérondif), pas l'infinitif.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Imminent : Être Sur Le Point De & Être Au Bord De

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

He said he will be here at 5.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He said he would be here at 5.
Reported speech requires backshifting.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To

Quelle phrase utilise correctement le Future Perfect Continuous ?

Choisis la bonne option :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: At 8 PM, we will have been watching the movie for an hour.
La structure correcte est 'will have been + Verbe-ing'. L'option A utilise un participe passé incorrect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

By the time he retires, he will been teaching for thirty years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: By the time he retires, he will have been teaching for thirty years.
Il manquait l'auxiliaire 'have' pour former correctement le Future Perfect Continuous.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Antérieur Continu : Le Temps de la Durée

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

On s'en sert pour parler d'une action qui sera en train de se passer à un moment donné. Imagine prendre une photo d'une activité en cours dans le futur, comme : "At 8 PM, I'll be eating dinner."
La structure est super simple : Sujet + will + be + verbe en -ing. Par exemple :
You will be studying
ou la forme contractée "You'll be studying".
Ça indique une action qui va arriver tout de suite, dans les secondes ou minutes à venir. Dis-toi que c'est comme être
sur le point de
, par exemple : "I'm about to hit send on this email."
C'est aussi pour le futur immédiat, mais avec un ton plus formel ou dramatique. On sent que c'est un moment charnière :
The company was on the point of closing down.
On les utilise pour parler d'événements futurs déjà planifiés ou attendus. Ça ajoute une touche de certitude, comme dans :
The concert is set to begin at 8 PM.
C'est simple : Sujet + 'be' conjugué + due to / set to + base verbale. Par exemple :
The report is due to be submitted.
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L'art de raconter : Anecdotes et récits captivants
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Regrets, souhaits et exigences : l’art de la nuance
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