Future plans (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Future plans
Essential vocabulary
When discussing your future aspirations and plans, you'll need key vocabulary to express your ideas clearly. These terms form the foundation for talking about life goals and ambitions.
Building a strong vocabulary foundation is essential for expressing complex ideas about your future. Focus on memorising these core terms as they frequently appear in GCSE examinations.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la vida | life |
| la cuenta | bill, account |
| la independencia | independence |
| el piso | flat, apartment |
| la carrera | career, course |
| casarse | to get married |
| al / en el extranjero | abroad |
| viajar | to travel |
| hacer turismo | to sightsee |
| el éxito | success |
Example sentences:
- Cuando tenga veinte años, espero viajar. (When I am twenty, I hope to travel.)
- Mi objetivo principal en la vida es tener éxito. (My main aim in life is to be successful.)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la aventura | adventure |
| el país | country |
| conocer | to get to know |
| el pasatiempo | hobby |
| ganar | to earn |
| el novio / la novia | boyfriend / girlfriend |
| el sueño | dream |
| el objetivo | aim, objective |
Example sentences:
- Quiero conocer muchos países diferentes. (I want to get to know many different countries.)
- Mi sueño es ganar mucho dinero. (My dream is to earn lots of money.)
Grammar focus: present subjunctive after "cuando"
Understanding when to use the present subjunctive is crucial for discussing future plans accurately. The present subjunctive appears after cuando when referring to actions that haven't happened yet.
Critical Grammar Rule: Use the present subjunctive after cuando when the action hasn't occurred yet. This is one of the most common mistakes students make in GCSE Spanish exams.
Key verb conjugations in present subjunctive:
| 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 |
Examples in context:
- 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.)
Worked Example: Conjugating "tener" in present subjunctive
Step 1: Start with the infinitive → tener Step 2: Take the first person present indicative → tengo Step 3: Remove the -o ending → teng- Step 4: Add subjunctive endings:
- yo tenga
- tú tengas
- él/ella tenga
In context: Cuando tenga dinero, compraré una casa. (When I have money, I will buy a house.)
Useful phrases for expressing future plans
These phrases help you articulate your aspirations and discuss future goals naturally. They're particularly useful for speaking and writing tasks.
These starter phrases are excellent for structuring your responses in both oral and written examinations. Practice using them until they become natural.
Expressing future intentions:
- Cuando sea mayor, me gustaría... (When I am older, I would like...)
- Algún día, mi sueño es... (Some day, my dream is...)
- Mi objetivo principal en la vida es... (My main aim in life is...)
- Cuando tenga veinte años, espero... (When I am twenty, I hope...)
Example in context: Cuando tenga veinte años, espero viajar por el mundo. (When I am twenty, I hope to travel around the world.)
Translation practice
Translation Practice Exercise
Spanish to English:
- Mi sueño es viajar al extranjero.
- Cuando sea mayor, quiero casarme.
English to Spanish:
- When I am older, I want to have my own flat.
- My main objective is to be successful.
Answers:
- My dream is to travel abroad. / When I am older, I want to get married.
- Cuando sea mayor, quiero tener mi propio piso. / Mi objetivo principal es tener éxito.
Pronunciation tip
Pronunciation Guide Remember that cuando is pronounced "KWAN-doh" with emphasis on the first syllable. The "u" creates a "w" sound when combined with other vowels.
Exam tip
Essential Exam Strategy In exam questions about future plans, listen carefully for time expressions like cuando, algún día, or en el futuro. These often signal that you need to use specific tenses or subjunctive forms in your responses.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use the present subjunctive after cuando when discussing future events that haven't happened yet
- Key future vocabulary includes la carrera, el objetivo, la independencia, and el éxito
- Useful starter phrases help structure your responses: Cuando sea mayor..., Mi sueño es..., Algún día...
- Practice conjugating common irregular verbs in the present subjunctive: hacer → haga, tener → tenga, ir → vaya
- Future plans topics often appear in both speaking and writing sections of GCSE exams