Verbs: Future Tense

01

Regular Verbs: Formation

To form the future tense, take the full infinitive of the verb and add the appropriate ending.

The endings are:

• yo: -é
• tú: -ás
• él, ella, usted: -á
• nosotros, nosotras: -emos
• vosotros, vosotras: -éis
• ellos, ellas, ustedes: -án

For example, with the verbs hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live):

• Mañana hablaré con mi jefe.

  Tomorrow I will speak with my boss.

• ¿Comeréis en casa esta noche?

  Will you (plural, informal) eat at home tonight?

• Ellos vivirán en Madrid el año que viene.

  They will live in Madrid next year.

02

Irregular Verbs: Stem Changes

A number of common verbs are irregular in the future tense. Their stem changes, but they use the same regular endings listed above.

Verbs that replace the infinitive vowel with -d-

• poner → pondr-
• tener → tendr-
• salir → saldr-
• venir → vendr-
• valer → valdr-

• Tendré que estudiar mucho para el examen.

  I will have to study a lot for the exam.

• ¿Cuándo saldrás del trabajo?

  When will you leave work?

Verbs that drop the vowel of the infinitive ending

• poder → podr-
• querer → querr-
• saber → sabr-
• haber → habr- (used as an auxiliary verb and for habrá, there will be)

• No podré ir a la fiesta.

  I won't be able to go to the party.

• Habrá mucha gente en el concierto.

  There will be a lot of people at the concert.

Highly irregular stems

• decir → dir-
• hacer → har-

• Te diré un secreto.

  I will tell you a secret.

• ¿Qué harás este fin de semana?

  What will you do this weekend?

03

Usage: Predictions and Promises

The future simple is used to talk about future events, make predictions, or state decisions and promises made at the moment of speaking.

• El año que viene viajaremos a Italia.

  Next year we will travel to Italy.

• No te preocupes, yo te ayudaré.

  Don't worry, I will help you.

• Según el pronóstico, mañana lloverá.

  According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.

04

Usage: Probability in the Present

A very common use of the future tense is to express conjecture, probability, or wonder about a present situation. It translates to "must be," "is probably," or "I wonder...".

• ¿Dónde está Ana?

  I don't know, she must be in her office.

• ¿Qué hora es?

  It's probably three o'clock.

• Ese hombre tendrá unos 40 años.

  That man is probably about 40 years old.

05

Future Simple vs. 'Ir a + Infinitive'

While the future simple is used for predictions and more distant future events, the construction ir a + infinitive is more common in spoken Spanish for near-future plans and intentions.

• Esta noche voy a ver una película.

  Tonight I'm going to watch a film. (A definite plan)

• Algún día veré el mundo entero.

  Someday I will see the whole world. (A more distant aspiration or prediction)