The future tense (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
The future tense
Introduction
When speaking or writing in German, you'll need to express future actions and plans. There are several ways to do this, with the most common being the future tense using werden plus an infinitive verb.
Understanding the future tense is essential for expressing plans, predictions, and intentions in German. While there are multiple ways to talk about the future, mastering the werden + infinitive construction will give you the foundation you need.
Main future tense construction
The German future tense is formed by combining the present tense of werden (to become/will) with an infinitive verb placed at the end of the sentence. This construction is used to talk about future plans, predictions, and what you intend to do.
Conjugation of werden
| Person | werden | Example infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | gehen |
| du | wirst | sein |
| er/sie/es | wird | helfen |
| wir | werden | fahren |
| ihr | werdet | spielen |
| Sie/sie | werden | essen |
Example sentences
The infinitive always goes to the end of the clause:
Working with Future Tense Structure
- Ich werde die Schule verlassen. - I will leave school.
- Er wird morgen nach Berlin fahren. - He will travel to Berlin tomorrow.
- Wir werden das Buch lesen. - We will read the book.
Notice how the infinitive verb (verlassen, fahren, lesen) always appears at the end of the sentence.
Inversion in the future tense
When you begin a sentence with a time marker (like morgen, heute Abend, später), the verb werden must move to second position, and the subject follows it. This is called inversion.
Word Order Rule with Time Markers
Time marker + werden + subject + other elements + infinitive
This inversion is mandatory in German when starting with a time expression!
| Time marker | werden | Subject | Object/complement | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In der Zukunft | werde | ich | Geld | verdienen. |
| Heute Abend | werde | ich | fernsehen. | |
| Später | wird | er | ausgehen. |
Key point: When using separable verbs in the future tense, the prefix rejoins the main verb at the end of the sentence.
Word order with certain expressions
Using the future tense with words like wenn (when/if) or weil (because) changes the word order:
Future Tense in Subordinate Clauses
- Ich esse früh, weil ich heute Abend ausgehen werde. - I'm eating early because I'm going out this evening.
- Wenn er morgen kommt, werden wir zusammen essen. - When he comes tomorrow, we will eat together.
In subordinate clauses, werden moves to the end, just before the infinitive.
Present tense with future intent
You can express future actions by using a present tense verb combined with a future time marker. This is common in everyday German conversation and often sounds more natural than the formal future tense.
Why Use Present Tense for Future?
This construction is particularly useful because it's simpler than the full future tense and sounds natural in spoken German. Native speakers frequently use this form in casual conversation.
Examples:
- Morgen gehe ich einkaufen. - Tomorrow I'm going shopping.
- Im Sommer macht er einen Fußballkurs. - In summer he's going to do a football course.
- Nächste Woche besuchen wir unsere Großeltern. - Next week we're visiting our grandparents.
Other ways of expressing future plans
Using wollen (to want to)
- wollen + infinitive
- In der Zukunft will ich nicht studieren. - I don't want to study in the future.
Using hoffen (to hope)
- hoffen + zu + infinitive
- Ich hoffe, eine interessante Arbeit zu finden. - I hope to find an interesting job.
Using möchte (would like to)
- ich möchte + infinitive
- Ich möchte Schauspieler sein. - I would like to be an actor.
Expressing Different Attitudes
These alternatives allow you to express different attitudes towards future actions - desires, hopes, and preferences rather than simple statements of intent. Choose the construction that best matches what you want to convey.
Practice translation exercises
Try converting these present tense sentences into future tense using werden:
Translation Practice
German to English:
- Ich werde ins Ausland fahren.
- Er wird Medizin studieren.
English to German: 3. Will you study? 4. We will find a new flat.
Answers:
- I will travel abroad.
- He will study medicine.
- Wirst du studieren? / Werdet ihr studieren?
- Wir werden eine neue Wohnung finden.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The future tense uses werden + infinitive at the end of the sentence
- Time markers at the beginning require inversion (verb in second position)
- You can use present tense + time marker as a simpler alternative
- Separable verbs rejoin at the end when using the future tense
- Alternative constructions like wollen, hoffen + zu, and möchte express different types of future intentions