In this lesson, we will learn how to conjugate and use verbs in the future tense in Spanish. We’ll cover regular verbs ending in -ar, -er, and -ir, as well as some common irregular verbs. This will help you discuss plans, make predictions, and express future intentions.
Objectives:
- Learn to conjugate regular verbs ending in -ar, -er, and -ir in the future tense in Spanish.
- Understand the conjugation patterns of common irregular verbs in the future tense.
- Develop the ability to discuss plans, make predictions, and express future intentions using verbs in the future tense.
Verb Table
Here’s how to conjugate regular and some irregular verbs in the future tense:
| Verbs (Infinitive) | Translation | Conjugation (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros/nosotras, vosotros/vosotras, ellos/ellas/ustedes) |
|---|---|---|
| Hablar | to speak | hablaré, hablarás, hablará, hablaremos, hablaréis, hablarán |
| Comer | to eat | comeré, comerás, comerá, comeremos, comeréis, comerán |
| Vivir | to live | viviré, vivirás, vivirá, viviremos, viviréis, vivirán |
| Tener – Irregular | to have | tendré, tendrás, tendrá, tendremos, tendréis, tendrán |
| Poder – Irregular | to be able to | podré, podrás, podrá, podremos, podréis, podrán |
| Salir – Irregular | to leave, go out | saldré, saldrás, saldrá, saldremos, saldréis, saldrán |
| Hacer – Irregula | to do, make | haré, harás, hará, haremos, haréis, harán |
| Venir – Irregular | to come | vendré, vendrás, vendrá, vendremos, vendréis, vendrán |
Dialogue among Familia García in future tense
The following conversation takes place as the García family discusses their future plans:
| Spanish Dialogue | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Antonio: El próximo año, hablaremos más inglés en casa para mejorar nuestras habilidades. | Antonio: Next year, we will speak more English at home to improve our skills. |
| Penélope: Yo comeré más saludable desde ahora. Es una promesa. | Penélope: I will eat healthier from now on. It’s a promise. |
| Juan: Creo que viviremos en una ciudad más grande en el futuro. Me gustaría mucho. | Juan: I think we will live in a bigger city in the future. I would like that a lot. |
| Lucía: ¿Cuándo vendréis a visitar mi nueva escuela? Estoy emocionada por mostraros todo. | Lucía: When will you come to visit my new school? I’m excited to show you everything. |
| Abuela Rosa: Yo tendré más tiempo para mis hobbies ahora que me jubilo. | Abuela Rosa: I will have more time for my hobbies now that I am retiring. |
| Abuelo Miguel: ¿Podremos viajar a Marbella el próximo verano? Sería estupendo ver el mar otra vez. | Abuelo Miguel: Will we be able to travel to Marbella next summer? It would be great to see the sea again. |
Key Considerations for Using the Future Tense in Spanish
Important points you should keep in mind when using the future tense in Spanish:
- Conjugation Simplicity: The future tense is relatively simple to conjugate because the same endings are used for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs. Unlike other tenses, you just add the future endings directly to the infinitive form of the verb without removing the -ar, -er, or -ir endings.
- Irregular Verbs: While the future tense is generally straightforward, there are some common irregular verbs that change their stem but keep the regular future tense endings. For example, “tener” becomes “tendré,” and “hacer” becomes “haré.” It’s essential to memorize these irregular forms.
- Versatility in Usage: The future tense in Spanish can be used not only to talk about what will happen, but also to express probability or supposition about the present. For example, “¿Dónde estará Juan?” (I wonder where Juan could be?)
- Temporal Markers: Although the future tense indicates that something will happen in the future, it’s often used with specific time expressions such as “mañana” (tomorrow), “el próximo año” (next year), “más tarde” (later), etc. These temporal markers help clarify the time frame.
- Formality and Style: In spoken Spanish, particularly in some regions, the future tense can sometimes be replaced by the present tense or by going to + verb (ir a + infinitive) construction to express future actions. For example, instead of saying “Haré mi tarea más tarde” (I will do my homework later), it’s common to hear “Voy a hacer mi tarea más tarde” (I’m going to do my homework later).
- Interrogative Form: When forming questions in the future tense, the conjugated verb can be used to inquire about plans or likelihoods, making it a versatile tool in both casual and formal conversations.
By understanding these aspects, students can use the future tense more effectively and accurately in various contexts.