Planning a move to Mexico City? Dreaming about that semester abroad in Madrid? Or maybe you’re starting a new job in Bogotá? Time to master the Spanish future tense! Whether you’re discussing your career plans, making weekend predictions, or just talking about tomorrow’s weather, the future tense is your key to expressing what’s coming next in Spanish.
Understanding the Spanish Future Tense
The future tense (or futuro simple) is your go-to for talking about what will happen. Unlike English, where we often use “going to,” Spanish has a simple, elegant way to express future actions. The best part? Most of the conjugation patterns are surprisingly regular!
When to Use the Future Tense
- Making predictions:
“Lloverá mañana en Barcelona”
(It will rain tomorrow in Barcelona) - Discussing plans:
“Viviré en Ciudad de México el próximo año”
(I will live in Mexico City next year) - Making promises:
“Te llamaré cuando llegue a Medellín”
(I will call you when I arrive in Medellín) - Expressing probability:
“Estará en el Museo del Prado”
(They must be at the Prado Museum)
Forming the Future Tense
Here’s the beautiful thing about the future tense: you just add the same endings to the infinitive for all verbs (-ar, -er, -ir)!
Regular Future Endings
Using hablar as an example:
- Yo hablaré
- Tú hablarás
- Él/ella/usted hablará
- Nosotros hablaremos
- Vosotros hablaréis
- Ellos/ellas/ustedes hablarán
Common Irregular Stems
- Decir → dir- (diré, dirás…)
- Hacer → har- (haré, harás…)
- Salir → saldr- (saldré, saldrás…)
- Venir → vendr- (vendré, vendrás…)
Real-Life Examples
1. Making Plans in Mexico
“Iremos al Zócalo y después comeremos tacos al pastor.”
(We will go to the Zócalo and then we will eat tacos al pastor.)
2. Job Hunting in Colombia
“Trabajaré en una empresa tecnológica en Bogotá.”
(I will work at a tech company in Bogotá.)
3. Travel Plans in Spain
“¿Cuándo llegarás a Madrid? Te esperaré en la estación de Atocha.”
(When will you arrive in Madrid? I will wait for you at Atocha station.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t use it for immediate future:
❌ “Saldré en cinco minutos”
✅ “Voy a salir en cinco minutos” - Remember irregular stems:
❌ “Poneré la mesa”
✅ “Pondré la mesa”
Ready to Level Up Your Spanish?
Take your future tense skills to the next level with our comprehensive resources! Visit our complete future tense guide for more examples and practice exercises. Want to master specific verbs? Check out how to use Ir in Latin American Spanish or Ir in Castilian Spanish. Need help with irregular verbs? We’ve got detailed guides for Ser in Latin American Spanish and Ser in Castilian Spanish. With our interactive exercises and audio examples, you’ll be talking about the future like a native speaker in no time. ¡Hasta el futuro!