B1 Spanish GrammarFuture Tense
Master the Spanish simple future tense (futuro simple) to express plans, predictions, and probability. Learn the regular conjugations with their distinctive -é, -ás, -á endings, plus common irregular verbs like tener, poder, venir, and saber.
1Regular Future Tense Formation
The Spanish future tense is unique: add endings directly to the infinitive without removing anything. The endings are the same for all verbs: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án. This makes it one of the easiest tenses to form - just memorize six endings.
Future Tense Endings
| Person | Hablar | Comer | Vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaré | comeré | viviré |
| tú | hablarás | comerás | vivirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | hablará | comerá | vivirá |
| nosotros | hablaremos | comeremos | viviremos |
| vosotros | hablaréis | comeréis | viviréis |
| ellos/Uds. | hablarán | comerán | vivirán |
Examples
Mañana hablaré con el jefe.
Tomorrow I will speak with the boss.
hablar + é = hablaré
Llegaremos a las ocho.
We will arrive at eight.
llegar + emos = llegaremos
Ellos estudiarán toda la noche.
They will study all night.
estudiar + án = estudiarán
Escribiré una carta.
I will write a letter.
-ir verb uses same endings
2Irregular Future Stems
About 12 verbs have irregular stems in the future, but the endings stay the same. These fall into three patterns: 1) Drop the -e (tener→tendr-, poder→podr-), 2) Replace vowel with -d (salir→saldr-, venir→vendr-), 3) Complete irregulars (hacer→har-, decir→dir-).
Irregular Future Stems
| Infinitive | Stem | yo form | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tener | tendr- | tendré | I will have |
| poder | podr- | podré | I will be able |
| saber | sabr- | sabré | I will know |
| salir | saldr- | saldré | I will leave |
| venir | vendr- | vendré | I will come |
| hacer | har- | haré | I will do/make |
| decir | dir- | diré | I will say |
| querer | querr- | querré | I will want |
Examples
Tendré más tiempo mañana.
I will have more time tomorrow.
tener → tendr- (drop e)
No podrán venir a la fiesta.
They won't be able to come to the party.
poder → podr-
Haré la tarea esta noche.
I will do the homework tonight.
hacer → har- (irregular)
Vendrán a las cinco.
They will come at five.
venir → vendr- (d replaces i)
3Uses of the Future Tense
The future tense expresses: 1) Future actions/events (mañana iré), 2) Predictions (lloverá), 3) Probability/conjecture in the present (Serán las tres - It must be three o'clock), 4) Strong promises or commands (Lo harás ahora - You will do it now).
Future Tense Uses
| Use | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Future event | El tren llegará a las diez | The train will arrive at ten |
| Prediction | Mañana hará calor | It will be hot tomorrow |
| Probability | Costará unos cien euros | It probably costs about 100 euros |
| Command/promise | Terminarás esto hoy | You will finish this today |
Examples
El año que viene viajaremos a España.
Next year we will travel to Spain.
definite future plan
Será medianoche.
It must be midnight.
probability in the present
Te lo diré cuando llegue.
I will tell you when I arrive.
future with cuando + subjunctive
Harás lo que te digo.
You will do what I tell you.
emphatic command
4Future vs Ir a + Infinitive
Spanish has two ways to express future: futuro simple (hablaré) and ir a + infinitive (voy a hablar). Ir a is more common in speech for near/planned future, while futuro simple is used for predictions, probability, formal contexts, and more distant future.
Comparing Future Expressions
| Ir a + infinitive | Futuro simple | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Voy a comer | Comeré | ir a: immediate; futuro: general |
| Va a llover | Lloverá | ir a: soon; futuro: prediction |
| Vamos a estudiar | Estudiaremos | ir a: planned; futuro: formal |
Examples
Voy a llamarte esta noche.
I'm going to call you tonight.
ir a: immediate, planned action
Algún día seré famoso.
Someday I will be famous.
futuro simple: distant future
El presidente hablará mañana.
The president will speak tomorrow.
futuro simple: formal announcement
Vamos a celebrar tu cumpleaños.
We're going to celebrate your birthday.
ir a: planned event