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.
学べること
「未来」を語るとき、いつも will や be going to だけで済ませていませんか？この章では、中上級者のあなたにふさわしい、より解像度の高い未来表現をマスターします。まずは、特定の時間に「〜している最中」であることを伝える Future Continuous や、特定の時点までの継続期間を強調する Future Perfect Continuous。これらを使えば、未来の予定をただの事実ではなく、生き生きとした情景として描写できるようになります。また、公式な予定を表す be due to や、まさに今何かが起きようとしている be about to を使い分けることで、ビジネスでも日常でも、状況の切迫感や確実性を正確に伝えられるようになります。さらに、When などの接続詞の後のルールや、「あの時は〜するつもりだった」という「過去から見た未来」まで深掘りします。例えば、会議の開始時刻を正確に伝えたり、過去の計画変更を説明したりする場面で、あなたの英語は驚くほど自然で説得力のあるものに変わるはず。時間の流れを自由自在に操って、ネイティブのような繊細な表現力を手に入れましょう！
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未来進行形 (will be -ing)Master Future Continuous to describe dynamic, ongoing actions at any future moment with confidence.
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差し迫った未来: be about to & be on the point of「まさに今！」を伝える魔法のフレーズです。日常の「〜するところ」なら
be about to、より重大な局面ならbe on the point of
を使いましょう。 -
予定された未来 (～することになっている, ～する予定である)あらかじめ決められた「公式な予定」や「確実なスケジュール」を話す時は、
be due toやbe set toを使ってプロフェッショナルに響かせましょう！ -
未来完了進行形：継続の時制It highlights an action's duration leading up to a specific future moment.
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Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About ToFuture 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.
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Future Time Clauses: When I Do vs. When I Have DoneAfter 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.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to describe your ongoing activities at a specific time tomorrow using 'will be -ing'.
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2
By the end you will be able to distinguish between informal and formal future schedules using 'be due to' and 'be about to'.
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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.
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4
By the end you will be able to explain past plans that changed using 'was going to' and 'was about to'.
チャプターガイド
Overview
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.
How This Grammar Works
will or going to cannot. They add layers of timing, expectation, and emphasis.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.
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.
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.
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*.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing Future Continuous with Simple Future for specific future actions.
- 1Using 'will' for officially scheduled events instead of more precise forms.
- 1Incorrectly forming or using the Future Perfect Continuous when duration is key.
Real Conversations
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Quick FAQ
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.
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).
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).
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
重要な例文 (6)
This time tomorrow, we will be flying over the Atlantic.
This time tomorrow, we will be flying over the Atlantic.
未来進行形 (will be -ing)She won't be answering her phone during the meeting.
She won't be answering her phone during the meeting.
未来進行形 (will be -ing)My project `is set to be finished` by Friday.
私のプロジェクトは金曜日までに完了する予定です。
予定された未来 (～することになっている, ～する予定である)By 6 PM, she `will have been waiting` for an hour.
Para las 6 PM, ella habrá estado esperando por una hora.
未来完了進行形：継続の時制When you arrive, I `will have been working` on this report for three hours.
Cuando llegues, habré estado trabajando en este informe por tres horas.
未来完了進行形：継続の時制ヒントとコツ (4)
The 'Snapshot' Rule
「たった今」を意識して！
be動詞の形をチェック！
They are due to arriveと言うべきところで、うっかり is を使わないように注意です。
The 'For' Rule
重要な語彙 (7)
Real-World Preview
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
よくある間違い
In English, we never use 'will' in a time clause starting with when, as soon as, or until. Use the present simple instead.
The Future Perfect Continuous requires the '-ing' form to show ongoing duration. 'Worked' is for the Future Perfect Simple.
To talk about a specific past plan that changed, use 'was going to'. 'Would' is usually for hypothetical situations or past habits.
このチャプターのルール (6)
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'.
クイック練習 (10)
Find and fix the mistake:
By next week, she will has been living here for a month.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 未来完了進行形：継続の時制
By the time the guest arrives, I ___ (cook) for three hours.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 未来完了進行形：継続の時制
Find and fix the mistake:
He said he will be here at 5.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To
We ___ (visit) London, but we went to Rome instead.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To
Find and fix the mistake:
I will be knowing the results by tomorrow morning.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 未来進行形 (will be -ing)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future Time Clauses: When I Do vs. When I Have Done
I knew the project ___ succeed.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To
I'm so tired! By the time I get home, I ___ for ten hours.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 未来完了進行形：継続の時制
Find and fix the mistake:
After I will finish, I will go.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future Time Clauses: When I Do vs. When I Have Done
Which sentence is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future in the Past: Was Going To, Would, Was About To
Score: /10
よくある質問 (6)
I shall be waiting.I'll be doing is more common for predictions and routines, while I'm going to be doing emphasizes a strong intention or a plan already made.The company was on the point of closing down.
The concert is set to begin at 8 PMのように、確実性や事前の段取りを感じさせます。
The report is due to be submittedのようになります。
