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'will be being+past participle'

Posted by KCCHAN · October 18, 2011 · 3 replies

I was wondering whether there is any grammtical form like 'will be being+past participle'. I think in theory there is such a thing, but I have never seen it in books. Does anyone have any idea?

3 Replies

Yes it exists - it's used to make predictions (hence will) about on-going present or future events, and is of course a passive. Compare the following, which might occur in reply to a question like Do you know what they're working on today? :

Statement of factual event (active) : They are printing the leaflets this morning.
Prediction of event (active) : They will be printing the leaflets this morning.

Both of those can be turned into the passive, perhaps in reply to What's happening this morning? :
Statement of factual event (passive) : The leaflets are being printed this morning
Prediction of event (passive) : The leaflets will be being printed this morning.

All that's happening is that the fact is being turned into a prediction by adding will, with the grammatical consequence that the following verb becomes an infinitive.

It's not a common structure (it can sound clumsy and the simple infinitive is often preferred), but certainly exists. Here are some authentic examples from Google :
The newest pictures that have been released about the new map pack resurrection which will be being released onto xbox on the 23rd of August
Please join our Scruples forum- it will be being updated on a regular basis.
A donation from the proceeds of this event will be being made to...
This site is currently being complied and new material will be being added...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HAVE READ SOME OTHER answers of yours; professional and brilliant

😳 You should be able to see me blushing from here to wherever you are... 🙂