Future plans (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Future plans - Revision notes
Introduction
When discussing your future aspirations and plans in Spanish, you'll need specific vocabulary and grammar structures. This topic covers essential words for talking about your goals, dreams, and what you hope to achieve, plus an important grammar rule about using the present subjunctive tense.
Key vocabulary
Learning these words will help you express your future plans and ambitions effectively:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la vida | life |
| el trabajo | work |
| la experiencia laboral | work experience |
| la cuenta | bill, account |
| la ciudad | city |
| el piso | flat |
| la carrera | career, course |
| los amigos | friends |
| al / en el extranjero | abroad |
| el éxito | success |
| el país | country |
| el dinero | money |
| el novio / la novia | boyfriend / girlfriend |
| el sueño | dream |
| casarse | to get married |
| conocer | to get to know |
| ganar | to earn |
| viajar | to travel |
| la independencia | independence |
| la aventura | adventure |
Focus on learning the vocabulary related to your personal goals first - words like el sueño (dream), la carrera (career), and la independencia (independence) are frequently used when discussing future plans.
Grammar focus: present subjunctive after "cuando"
When talking about future plans, you'll often use "cuando" (when) followed by the present subjunctive tense. This happens when the action hasn't occurred yet.
Key Grammar Rule: Use the present subjunctive after "cuando" when referring to future events that haven't happened yet. This is different from English, where we typically use the present tense.
The present subjunctive is formed by taking the first person singular (yo) form of the present tense, removing the -o ending, and adding the subjunctive endings. Here are the key irregular verbs you'll need:
| Infinitive | First person singular | Second person singular | Third person singular |
|---|---|---|---|
| hacer | haga | hagas | haga |
| tener | tenga | tengas | tenga |
| venir | venga | vengas | venga |
| ser | sea | seas | sea |
| ir | vaya | vayas | vaya |
Grammar in Action: Present Subjunctive with "cuando"
-
Cuando sea mayor, quiero tener mi propio piso. When I am older, I want to have my own flat.
-
Tendré más independencia cuando vaya a la universidad. I will have more independence when I go to university.
Notice how the subjunctive forms sea and vaya are used after "cuando" because these are future, unrealized events.
Useful phrases for expressing future plans
These phrases will help you sound more natural when discussing your aspirations:
Essential Phrases for Future Plans:
-
Cuando sea mayor, me gustaría... When I am older, I would like...
-
Algún día, mi sueño es... Some day, my dream is...
-
Para mí, lo más importante es... For me, the most important thing is...
These phrases are conversation starters that will help you express your ambitions naturally in Spanish.
Practice sentences
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use this vocabulary and grammar:
Worked Examples: Future Plans in Context
-
Cuando tenga veinte años, espero viajar. When I am twenty, I hope to travel.
-
Quiero ganar bastante dinero para tener mi propio piso en la ciudad. I want to earn enough money to have my own flat in the city.
-
Mi sueño es trabajar en el extranjero. My dream is to work abroad.
Notice how the first example uses the subjunctive tenga after "cuando" because it refers to a future age.
Translation practice
Translation Exercise
Spanish to English
- Cuando termine mis estudios, quiero encontrar un trabajo interesante.
- Para mí, lo más importante es tener independencia.
English to Spanish
- When I am older, I want to travel around the world.
- My dream is to have a successful career.
Answers
Spanish to English:
- When I finish my studies, I want to find an interesting job.
- For me, the most important thing is to have independence.
English to Spanish:
- Cuando sea mayor, quiero viajar por todo el mundo.
- Mi sueño es tener una carrera exitosa.
Pronunciation tips
Pronunciation Guidelines:
- Remember that "cuando" is pronounced "KWAN-doh"
- The subjunctive endings have clear vowel sounds: -a endings for -er and -ir verbs
- Practice the irregular subjunctive forms as they don't follow regular patterns
- Pay special attention to the pronunciation of sea (SAY-ah) and vaya (BAH-yah) as these are commonly used
Key Points to Remember:
- Use the present subjunctive after "cuando" when talking about future events that haven't happened yet
- Learn the irregular subjunctive forms of common verbs like ser, tener, hacer, ir, and venir
- Practice using future plans vocabulary in context with the subjunctive structure
- The phrase "cuando sea mayor" (when I am older) is very useful for discussing future aspirations
- Remember that talking about dreams and plans often involves expressing uncertainty, which is why the subjunctive is used