The future is a verb tense that we use to talk about actions or events that will happen later. In Spanish, there are several ways to express the future. Here are the most common ones:
1.Future Simple
The future simple is formed by adding the endings -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the infinitive of the verb.
Examples:
– Hablar -Hablaré con ella mañana. (I will speak with her tomorrow)
– Comer – Ellos comerán pizza esta noche. (They will eat pizza tonight)
2. Future Compound (Future Perfect)
The future compound is used to express actions that will have occurred at a specific time in the future. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “haber” in the simple future + past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
– Para el fin de semana, ya habré terminado mi tarea. (By the weekend, I will have finished my homework)
– Ellos habrán llegado a las 5 p.m. (They will have arrived by 5 p.m.)
3. Ir a + Infinitive
This is a very common and colloquial way of expressing the future, especially in conversation. You use “ir” in the present tense + “a” + infinitive of the verb
Examples:
– Voy a estudiar para el examen. (I am going to study for the exam)
– Ellos van a viajar a España el próximo año. (They are going to travel to Spain next year)
4. Using the present tense for the future
In Spanish, it is also common to use the present tense to talk about the future, especially when referring to scheduled or planned events.
Examples:
– La reunión es el lunes. (The meeting is on Monday.)
– El tren sale a las 8 a.m. (The train leaves at 8 a.m.)
Tips for Practicing the Spanish Future:
- Listen and read: Pay attention to how futures are used in songs, movies, and books.
- Oral practice: Try making sentences in the future about your plans for the week.
- Conversations: Ask about each partner’s future plans.
Special for Interlinco Spanish students! We hope this post will help you better understand the different uses of the future tense in Spanish. If you have questions or need more examples, your Interlinco teacher will be happy to help you.
Good luck in your learning!