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Future tense

There are two ways to express future actions in Spanish. The first is the simple future tense and the second is to use the structure Ir  a + infinitive.

In this lesson, we will go through these two forms, their conjugations and uses. Also, we will show you the verbs which are irregular in the future. Then in the next one we will cover the future perfect tense

Simple Future Tense

The conjugations of the verbs in future tense are rather simple. Above all, all three verb conjugations are the same (ar, er, ir verbs) and the number of irregular verbs is small. The endings for the conjugations in simple future tense  read 

(yo) -é

(tú) -ás

(él/ella, usted) -á

(nosotros/-as)  -emos

(vosotros/-as)  -éis

(ellos/-as, ustedes) –án

In addition, you should know that in future tense the endings are added directly to the infinitive of the verb, as opposed to the other tenses you’ve seen so far. So that the conjugation of for example “hablar” in future tense is

(yo) hablaré

(tú) hablarás

(él/ella, usted) hablará

(nosotros/-as)  hablaremos

(vosotros/-as)  hablaréis

(ellos/-as, ustedes) hablarán

As stated above, the “-er” and “-ir” verbs are conjugated as the same

 

(yo) comeré

(tú) comerás

(él/ella, usted) comerirá

(nosotros/-as)  comeremos

(vosotros/-as)  comeréis

(ellos/-as, ustedes) comerán

 

(yo) viviré

(tú) vivirás

(él/ella, usted) vivirá

(nosotros/-as)  viviremos

(vosotros/-as)  viviréis

(ellos/-as, ustedes) vivirán

 

When to use

  • The future tense corresponds to the English “will” and “shall” first of all; it is used to discuss future actions, happenings.

 

Mañana saldremos para Argentina Tomorrow we leave for Argentine

¿qué será de mí? What will become from me?          

 

  • Another important application of the future tense is to express probability, likelihood.

¿Qué horas serán? I wonder what time it is

Serán las siete It must be seven o’clock          

 

Be aware of the fact that Spanish future tense is not used for intentions, contrary to English. For example, s sentence like “Will you go to the cinema?” is not expressed using the future. You should use the verb “querer” and say ¿Quires ir al cine?

 

Ir a + Infinitive

The structure “to be going to do something” has a counterpart in Spanish. You use the verb ir (to go) plus the preposition a and the infinitive of the second verb. In this way, it is possible to express the future activities.

la fiesta va a ser en su casa  the party will be at her house

Yo voy a viajar a Mexico I will travel to Mexico


Present Tense

Apart from the structures above, keep also in mind the following. The indicaitve simple present tense can be used to express near future events as well. 

Esta noche vamos al cine. We are going to the cinema tonight

Vocabulary

There are a few verbs which are irregular in simple future tense. Below are the most common ones. Although they are irregular, their endings are the same. Thus, you only need to know how the stem looks like in the future tense. Otherwise you will conjugate them as explained above.

caber:  to fit  cabré / cabrás / cabrá / cabremos / cabréis / cabrán

decir: to say diré / dirás / dirá / diremos / diréis / dirán

haber: to have habré / habrás / habrá /habremos / habréis / habrán

hacer: to make, do haré / harás / hará / haremos / haréis / harán

poder: to be able podré / podrás / podrá / podremos / podréis / podrán

poner: to put pondré / pondrás / pondrá / pondremos / pondréis / pondrán

querer: to want querré / querrás / querrá / querremos / querréis / querrán

saber: to know sabré / sabrás / sabrá / sabremos / sabréis / sabrán

salir: to leave saldré / saldrás / saldrá / saldremos / saldréis / saldrán

tener: to have tendré / tend ás / tendrá / tendremos / tendréis / tend án

valer: to be worth valdré / valdrás / valdrá / valdremos / valdréis / valdrán

venir: to come vendré / vendrás / vendrá / vendremos / vendréis / vendrán

Let's Practice

Learn the verbs which are irregular in future tense by heart

All Exercises