BBC English Masterclass: Uses of the future continuous tense

You may know that English speakers use the future continuous to talk about an event in progress at a specific time in the future, but there's more to it than that. Dan will be helping you understand some other uses of the future continuous, with the help of his friend, Captain Dan.
For more, visit our website: www.bbc.co.uk/l...
Transcript:
Dan
Hi guys. Dan for BBC Learning English here. In this Masterclass we’ll be looking at natural uses for the future continuous. Now, as you can see, it's a beautiful day in London, the sun is shining. Oo the sun is shining, sunshine, holidays! That gives me an idea.
''Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Dan speaking. Welcome aboard BBC Airlines flight Learning English, non-stop service to English fluency. Our flight time will be approximately two to three minutes. We will be flying at an altitude of zero feet at a ground speed of 160 words per minute. We will be showing our safety demonstration and, following that, flight attendants will be circulating around the cabin to offer you refreshments. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.''
Have you ever flown on an aeroplane? If you have, you might have heard an announcement just like that one. You may have noticed that when the captain makes his announcement, he uses a lot of the future continuous. Why?
Well, the future continuous can be used to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a specific future time. For example, at four o'clock tomorrow I’ll be lying here again. However, our captain friend didn’t mention any specific future times. So why does he use the future continuous? Let’s let him explain.
''Well, in addition to the use mentioned above, the future continuous can be used to talk about a future event that will happen in the normal course of things. This means the action is certain to happen without any effort or decision being made by the speaker. I use the future continuous because I want to make my passengers relax. We will be flying at 50,000 feet means this will happen anyway and is normal or routine, so sit down, relax, everything is fine!''
Thanks Captain. Now, consider other examples:
'I’m sorry you missed the bus, but I can give you a lift since I’ll be going into town anyway to do the shopping.'
Or, 'Give me John’s birthday present and I’ll give it to him for you, since I’ll be seeing him at work on Monday.'
Now, because of this use, we can also use the future continuous to politely enquire about a person’s plans for the future. 'Are you going to come to dinner?' could be taken in a way meaning I am pushing you for a decision - almost like I’ve got to have an answer. But, 'will you be coming to dinner?' implies that I simply want to know about your future plans and there’s no pressure from me one way or another. In this usage, we can also bend the rules about state verbs being used in the continuous form - so we can ask questions like, will you be wanting dinner?
Did you get it? Good.

[@bbclearningenglish]

What will we be doing with food in the future? This 6 Minute English has an idea! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2TZeaitbpx0n6M

[@thalescamargo1044]

Dan, thank you so much for your short but really useful video. Your direct explanation strengthens our English skills

[@michaelromero31]

This teacher is so handsome! I am in love!

[@kaktuslaut9556]

Hahaha... :D

[@m.a7996]

yes

[@ily1962]

Who is he?? I'll die of curiosity

[@abigailkemp2410]

Lol, I want to know what's his IG handle.

[@sidharthan1031]

He's dan

[@garridoscar1]

Good explanation, easy to understand. Thank you!

[@britneyluciajoao2372]

PERFECT LESSON

[@pierangelabarbanti7695]

Great lesson, great teacher! Thank you!!!! I'm going to use it with my students!😍😍

[@sushisushi4521]

Thank you so much for the description 😍😍😍

[@saludfinanciera578]

thank you for the lesson. I'm trying to understand this tense

[@rambo7787]

At 1:58 you mention that the future continuous can be used to talk about a future event that will happen in the normal course of things without any effort or decision being made by the speaker. With that being said, can I use the future continuous in this sentence : "My teacher will be watching a horror movie before bed" In that context given, I'm talking about my teacher and the speaker is me and the decision to watch a horror movie is not made by me, it's made by my teacher Does it work that way?

[@husaamsaif]

If you post examples and important quotations on the screen while speaking. It will be great. Thanks.

[@Toma-l1v]

I was really struggling to understand why the future continuous tense is used in a plane announcement. I don’t know how many sources I’ve read trying to find the answer. Now it is clear. It would be great to see this masterclass in your real live lessons. 😊😊😊

[@Siloglie6421]

Yes sir, I will be flying to the UK next year

[@abiratiza4405]

Thanks for inspiring me to teach this lesson like you...😁

[@jairomoncada381]

dear people,if you use CC with the vidios, it will help a lot more to the students specially for people with prevented hearing.thanks.

[@CYBERSNET298]

Thanks for your nice Calcification

[@ericip778]

Excellent teacher

[@KoziestManOfTheWorld]

thank you!:-)

[@bukanalipbata5124]

Can future continuous be used to show daily routines? For example: every day I'll be picking up the kids from school, helping my wife in the kitchen, and so on.

[@bbclearningenglish]

We can but we'd more often use it like this: "I'm washing my car tomorrow. I always was it on Sunday" However, we most often use the present simple for daily routines.

[@bukanalipbata5124]

@@bbclearningenglish I do use present simple to tell my routines, but I once found a native using present continuous for telling his routines. So, it can be used to show 'effortless' as mentioned in the video, right? Many thanks for the instant reply anyway. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@tispermusic1538]

I'm not gay but I'd let this guy fly me to the moon

[@Siloglie6421]

brilliant class

[@Jezakhan]

Many thanks.

[@algewatta]

Very useful indeed!.

[@ngoclethi1611]

thanks very much

[@mdshahed4783]

Watched from Luxmipur🇧🇩

[@abdulazizaljarof7776]

great, thanks alot.

[@Ssotaibi]

Great and simple

[@دانيالالعراقي-ج8ذ]

Thank u very much .Really its useful

[@manuelblanzaco8100]

Nice

[@magdalenastasiak5161]

thank you!!!

[@cyclistRM2024]

cheers 😊😉very nice dan💚👌

[@ferlencinac]

Can't focus completely, Dan u're so handsome 🤭

[@mdshahed4783]

If you upload another video I will be watching that from Luxmipur🇧🇩

[@yoonmull]

Will you be wanting to date anyone, Dan?

[@CYBERSNET298]

Are you military

[@ОлексійПопружук-ю2т]

Бурса хай

[@seanettles657]

can't even say how freaking BIZARRE it is for me to hear English lessons from someone in an English accent who is not English.

[@chrisinuae1]

lame

[@tgchan]

Thank you.