The Future Tense (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
The Future Tense
Overview
The future tense in Spanish allows you to talk about actions and events that will happen later. There are two main ways to express the future: the simple future tense for general future actions, and the immediate future tense for plans that are going to happen soon. Understanding both forms will help you communicate effectively about upcoming events, plans, and predictions.
Mastering both future tenses is essential for expressing different types of future actions - from general predictions to specific immediate plans. The key is knowing when to use each form based on the certainty and timing of your intended meaning.
Rules & Formation
Simple future tense
The simple future tense is formed by adding special endings directly to the infinitive form of the verb. This makes it one of the easier tenses to learn since you don't need to remove any endings first.
For regular verbs, simply add these endings to the complete infinitive:
- -é (I will)
- -ás (you will)
- -á (he/she/it will)
- -emos (we will)
- -éis (you plural will)
- -án (they will)
Critical Rule: All future tense endings carry written accents except the -emos form (nosotros). Missing these accents completely changes the meaning and pronunciation of words.
Irregular future stems
Some common verbs use modified stems instead of their regular infinitive. You must memorise these special stems, then add the same future endings:
- decir → dir- (to say)
- haber → habr- (there is/are)
- hacer → har- (to make/do)
- poder → podr- (to be able to)
- querer → querr- (to want)
- saber → sabr- (to know)
- salir → saldr- (to leave)
- tener → tendr- (to have)
- venir → vendr- (to come)
- poner → pondr- (to put)
There's no pattern to these irregular stems - they must be memorised through regular practice. Focus on the most frequently used ones like tendr-, podr-, and querr- first, as these appear in everyday conversation.
Immediate future formation
The immediate future uses the present tense of ir + a + infinitive. This construction is similar to "going to" in English and expresses plans or intentions.
Tables of Key Forms
Simple future tense conjugation
| Person | Ending | Example (hablar) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | -é | hablaré | I will speak |
| tú | -ás | hablarás | you will speak |
| él/ella/usted | -á | hablará | he/she/you will speak |
| nosotros/as | -emos | hablaremos | we will speak |
| vosotros/as | -éis | hablaréis | you (plural) will speak |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | -án | hablarán | they/you (plural) will speak |
Immediate future tense conjugation
| Person | ir conjugation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | voy a hablar | I'm going to speak |
| tú | vas | vas a hablar | you're going to speak |
| él/ella/usted | va | va a hablar | he/she/you is/are going to speak |
| nosotros/as | vamos | vamos a hablar | we're going to speak |
| vosotros/as | vais | vais a hablar | you're going to speak |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | van | van a hablar | they/you are going to speak |
Example Sentences
Simple future tense examples
Worked Example: Simple Future in Context
El año que viene será difícil encontrar un buen trabajo. Next year it will be difficult to find a good job.
This example shows how the future tense expresses predictions about upcoming situations. Notice how será (will be) uses the irregular stem ser → ser- + á.
Worked Example: Conditional Future
Si llueve, iremos al cine. If it rains, we will go to the cinema.
Here the future tense describes a planned action that depends on a condition. The verb iremos uses the irregular stem ir → ir- + emos.
Immediate future tense examples
Worked Example: Immediate Future Plans
Vamos a ir a la fiesta. We're going to go to the festival.
The immediate future expresses definite plans for the near future. Notice the structure: vamos (present of ir) + a + ir (infinitive).
Worked Example: Questions with Immediate Future
¿Vas a comer algo? Are you going to eat something?
This shows how the immediate future asks about someone's immediate intentions. The question structure maintains the same ir + a + infinitive pattern.
En Barcelona va a comprar recuerdos. He's going to buy souvenirs in Barcelona. The immediate future describes specific plans that someone has arranged.
Voy a salir esta tarde. I'm going to go out this afternoon. This example shows immediate plans for a specific time.
Useful time expressions
Learn these time expressions that commonly appear with future tenses:
- mañana (tomorrow)
- esta noche (tonight)
- mañana por la mañana (tomorrow morning)
- el próximo viernes (next Friday)
Common Mistakes & Tips
Accent marks are crucial: Remember that all future tense endings have written accents except the -emos form (nosotros). Missing these accents completely changes the meaning of words.
Don't confuse the two future forms: Use the simple future for general predictions and the immediate future for definite plans. The immediate future sounds more certain and immediate.
Irregular stems need memorising: There's no pattern to irregular future stems, so create flashcards or practice them regularly. Focus on the most common ones like tendr-, podr-, and querr-.
Word order with immediate future: Always keep ir + a + infinitive together. Don't separate these elements or insert other words between them.
Mini Practice
Practice Exercise: Translation Challenge
Spanish to English translations:
- Nunca fumaré.
- Ayudo a otras personas.
- Cambiamos el mundo.
English to Spanish translations:
- I'm going out at six.
- I am a doctor.
- He's going to Ecuador.
Answers:
- I will never smoke.
- I help other people. (This is present tense, not future)
- We change the world. (This is present tense, not future)
- Salgo a las seis. (This is present tense) / Voy a salir a las seis.
- Soy médico.
- Va a Ecuador. / Voy a Ecuador. (Depending on context)
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The simple future tense adds endings directly to the infinitive (-é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án)
- Some verbs have irregular stems that must be memorised (like tendr-, podr-, querr-)
- The immediate future uses ir + a + infinitive for definite plans
- All future endings have accents except -emos
- Time expressions like mañana and esta noche often accompany future tenses