While + future progressive?

Question

Which tenses are correct regarding this example sentence:

"While you will be eating your dinner, I will continue to read my book"

or is it

"While you eat your dinner, I will continue to read my book"?

I guess the second one is correct, but why don't you use the future progressive to indicate a process in the future? During this process another single future action could happen, couldn't it?

I find it pretty hard to grasp the concept between these "time words" and their respective tenses...

Thank you in advance!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Catull"While you eat your dinner, I will (continue to) read my book"?

This one is the better one. (You don't need 'continue to'.)

Catullwhy don't you use the future progressive to indicate a process in the future?

We do, but usually not in a subordinate clause, especially if the main clause already has it.

I'll be waiting here while you're taking care of the kids. (Not while you'll be taking care of the kids.)

There are actually two factors here. The future. The progressive. We almost never use the future after 'if', 'when', 'while', 'until', and other subordinators of time. We can usually choose the progressive or non-progressive after 'while' because 'while' tends to force a progressive meaning upon any simple tense that follows in the same clause.

CatullI find it pretty hard to grasp the concept between these "time words" and their respective tenses...

It takes some time to develop a feel for it. Just be patient.

CJ

While + future progressive?

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