“I am buying a car now.” is in the present continuous (i.e., verb “to be” + verb + “ing”) indicating an action taking place now. However, what about this sentence:
“In the future, I will be buying a car”. Why the “ing” form of the verb after the verb “to be” in the future? Also, in this sentence: “Tomorrow, I will buy a car.” there is no verb “to be” and no “ing” verb? A clear explanation of the grammar involved here would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and I look forward to reading your replies.
Expressing a future idea with a continuous construction as in your ‘I will be buying’ combines two themes: intention and also a projected ‘picture’ of what you will be doing at some time in the future. In other words you imagine yourself doing this in the future. ‘Tomorrow I will buy a car’ is simply a statement of intent concerning your activity the next day.
You might like to look at some material I have written for the site on the future in general: Future Tense
There are several different ways to use the future continuous. One of the uses is to talk about usual or standard things that you fully expect to happen in the future. In the context of business English, for example, the future continuous is frequently used to talk about business plans and decisions. You might hear a company such as HP say something like this:
“We will be launching a new Deskjet next month.”
The launch of a new version of a product is something that is quite normal and usual for a company to do.
In the context of an airline flight, you might hear the pilot make this sort of announcement to the passengers of an overseas flight just after take-off (i.e. before the plane has reached its cruising altitude):
“We will be flying at 35,000 feet today.”
The course and altitude of the flight was a previously made business decision, and 35,000 feet is also a completely normal and usual altitude for a long flight. And, of course, in this case a sense of “continuousness” also comes into play (i.e. the cruising altitude for the duration of the flight).
Now, imagine that you work with someone named Bob. Both of you have average salaries and live in middle class neighborhoods. It would be out of place if Bob said this to you:
“I will be buying a brand new Porsche Carrera GT next week.”
For most people, buying a new Porsche Carrera is not only NOT NORMAL or expected, but it is also financially impossible. However, the use of the future continuous makes that sentence sound as if buying a new Porsche Carrera is a very normal and expected thing for Bob to do. If Bob sees this sort of purchase as fully normal and expected, you might either think that Bob is very conceited, or Bob’s use of the future continuous might lead you to believe that he has been embezzling large sums of money from the company (i.e. that is why he can afford such an expensive car). :shock: Bob’s sentence would not be a typical way to use the future continuous.
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