The Future Continuous describes an action that will be in progress at a specific moment in the future. It combines the future auxiliary will with the verb be and the main verb in the -ing form.

It is especially useful in healthcare communication to describe:

• Planned procedures in progress.
• Ongoing treatments at a certain future time.
• Technological innovations that will be operating.
• Schedules and timetables for patients and staff.

Example in healthcare:

• At 10 a.m. tomorrow, the doctor will be performing surgery.
• By next year, hospitals will be using more artificial intelligence systems.

Structure of the Future Continuous

Subject + will + be + verb(-ing)

Uses of the Future Continuous in Healthcare

1. Actions in progress at a specific time in the future
   • At 2 p.m., the nurse will be checking the patient’s blood pressure.
   • → A las 2 p.m., la enfermera estará revisando la presión arterial del paciente.
2. Planned events or arrangements
   • Next week, we will be launching the telemedicine program.
   • → La próxima semana, estaremos lanzando el programa de telemedicina.
3. Future actions happening simultaneously
   • While the surgeon is operating, the students will be observing the procedure.
   • → Mientras el cirujano esté operando, los estudiantes estarán observando el procedimiento.
4. Polite or professional predictions
   • Don’t worry, the technician will be preparing the scanner for your test.
   • → No se preocupe, el técnico estará preparando el escáner para su examen.

Future Continuous vs. Future Simple

Correct vs. Incorrect Examples

Correct:

• The nurse will be monitoring the patient overnight.
• At this time tomorrow, the surgeon will be performing an operation.
• By next year, hospitals will be using more AI technologies.

Incorrect:

• ❌ The nurse will monitoring the patient overnight.
  ✅ The nurse will be monitoring the patient overnight. (Always use be before verb + ing).
• ❌ The doctor will be checks the patient tomorrow.
  ✅ The doctor will be checking the patient tomorrow. (Use verb + -ing, not base or third person form).
• ❌ Hospitals will using AI systems.
  ✅ Hospitals will be using AI systems. (Include be).

Why is Future Continuous Important in Healthcare?

1. Scheduling procedures
   • Tomorrow morning, the surgical team will be preparing the operating room.
2. Predicting ongoing innovations
   • In five years, nurses will be using more advanced monitoring devices.
3. Explaining future patient care
   • During rehabilitation, the patient will be attending daily physiotherapy sessions.
4. Professional and precise communication
   • By 2030, hospitals will be implementing more robotics in surgeries.

Examples in Context (Healthcare English)

• At 8 p.m., the technician will be installing the software update.
  → A las 8 p.m., el técnico estará instalando la actualización de software.
• This time next week, patients will be connecting to doctors through telemedicine.
  → A esta hora la próxima semana, los pacientes estarán conectándose con doctores mediante telemedicina.
• While the nurse is assisting in surgery, the AI system will be monitoring vital signs.
  → Mientras la enfermera asiste en la cirugía, el sistema de IA estará monitoreando los signos vitales.
• By next year, hospitals will be storing all records in cloud databases.
  → Para el próximo año, los hospitales estarán almacenando todos los registros en bases de datos en la nube.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ The patient will checking the new system tomorrow.
✅ The patient will be checking the new system tomorrow.

❌ We will be to use telemedicine in emergencies.
✅ We will be using telemedicine in emergencies.

❌ Doctors will be works with robotics.
✅ Doctors will be working with robotics.