Future Tense
Learn to express future actions in German using the Futur I tense with 'werden' and understand when Germans use present tense for future meaning.
1Forming Futur I
The German future tense (Futur I) is formed with the auxiliary verb "werden" plus an infinitive at the end of the sentence. The conjugation of "werden" is: ich werde, du wirst, er/sie/es wird, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie/Sie werden. This structure is similar to English "will" + verb, making it relatively easy for English speakers to learn.
Examples
Ich werde morgen kommen.
I will come tomorrow.
werden (conjugated) + infinitive at end
Er wird das Buch lesen.
He will read the book.
wird + infinitive (lesen)
Wir werden nach Berlin fahren.
We will go to Berlin.
werden + infinitive at end
Wirst du mir helfen?
Will you help me?
Question with wirst + infinitive
2Present Tense for Future
In everyday German, the present tense with a future time expression is actually more common than Futur I for expressing future events. This is especially true when the context is clear or a time word indicates the future. Using Futur I can sound slightly formal or emphatic. Native speakers often prefer present tense for casual conversation about future plans.
Examples
Morgen fliege ich nach London.
Tomorrow I'm flying to London.
Present tense + time word = natural future
Nächste Woche beginnt der Kurs.
Next week the course starts.
Present tense for scheduled events
Heute Abend gehen wir ins Kino.
This evening we're going to the cinema.
Present tense for near future plans
Im Sommer mache ich Urlaub.
In summer I'll take a vacation.
Present tense for definite plans
3Futur I for Predictions and Assumptions
Futur I is commonly used for predictions, assumptions, or guesses about the present or future. In these cases, it adds a sense of probability or speculation rather than just future time. Words like "wohl" (probably), "sicher" (surely), or "bestimmt" (certainly) often accompany these constructions to emphasize the speculative nature.
Examples
Das wird wohl stimmen.
That's probably true.
werden + wohl for probability
Er wird sicher kommen.
He will surely come.
werden + sicher for confident prediction
Sie wird jetzt schlafen.
She's probably sleeping now.
werden for assumption about present
Das Wetter wird morgen besser sein.
The weather will be better tomorrow.
werden for weather predictions
4Futur I with Modal Verbs
When combining Futur I with modal verbs, the structure becomes: werden + infinitive + modal infinitive. The sentence ends with two infinitives (called "double infinitive" or "Ersatzinfinitiv"). This construction sounds formal and is more common in written German. In speech, present tense with a modal is usually preferred.
Examples
Du wirst das verstehen können.
You will be able to understand that.
werden + verstehen + können (double infinitive)
Er wird früher gehen müssen.
He will have to leave earlier.
werden + gehen + müssen
Ich werde das machen wollen.
I will want to do that.
werden + machen + wollen
Sie wird nicht kommen können.
She won't be able to come.
werden + nicht + infinitive + modal
5Choosing Between Present and Futur I
Use present tense for: definite plans, scheduled events, and near-future actions with time words. Use Futur I for: formal contexts, predictions/assumptions, emphasis on uncertainty, and when no time word is present. Generally, if your sentence has a clear time expression (morgen, nächste Woche, etc.), present tense sounds more natural. Futur I without a time word implies "at some point in the future."
Examples
Der Zug kommt um 15 Uhr an.
The train arrives at 3 PM.
Present for scheduled events (natural)
Eines Tages werde ich berühmt sein.
One day I will be famous.
Futur I for distant/uncertain future
Ich verspreche, ich werde pünktlich sein.
I promise, I will be on time.
Futur I for promises/emphasis
Was wirst du nach dem Studium machen?
What will you do after your studies?
Futur I for open-ended future questions