The Spanish Future Tense
The simple future is one of the easiest tenses to form: you add endings to the full infinitive. You also use it to express probability and promises. In everyday speech, many people prefer ir a plus an infinitive, but you need the future for writing and formal speech.
Quick answer
- Add the endings to the infinitive: hablaré, comerás, vivirá
- Same endings for -ar, -er, -ir: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -án
- Irregular stems: tendré, haré, podré, diré, sabré, vendré
Regular future endings
Keep the whole infinitive and add -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -án. The endings are the same for every verb type, and all except nosotros have an accent.
| Person | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaré | comeré | viviré |
| tú | hablarás | comerás | vivirás |
| él, ella, usted | hablará | comerá | vivirá |
| nosotros | hablaremos | comeremos | viviremos |
| ellos, ustedes | hablarán | comerán | vivirán |
Examples
- Mañana hablaré con mi jefe.Tomorrow I will talk with my boss.Future.
- Comeremos en casa de mi abuela.We will eat at my grandmother’s house.Nosotros.
- ¿Vivirás aquí el próximo año?Will you live here next year?Question.
Irregular stems
Twelve verbs have irregular stems, but the endings are the same. Learn the most common ones first.
| Infinitive | Stem | Yo form |
|---|---|---|
| tener | tendr- | tendré |
| hacer | har- | haré |
| poder | podr- | podré |
| decir | dir- | diré |
| saber | sabr- | sabré |
| venir | vendr- | vendré |
| salir | saldr- | saldré |
| poner | pondr- | pondré |
| querer | querr- | querré |
Examples
- Mañana tendré mucho trabajo.Tomorrow I will have a lot of work.Tener.
- ¿Qué harás el sábado?What will you do on Saturday?Hacer.
- Mis padres vendrán en diciembre.My parents will come in December.Venir.
Uses of the future
Use the future for predictions (Lloverá mañana), promises (Te llamaré), and probability in the present (Estará en casa = he is probably at home).
Examples
- Te llamaré esta noche.I will call you tonight.Promise.
- ¿Dónde estará Ana?Where could Ana be?Probability.
- Serán las nueve.It is probably nine o’clock.Probability.
- El año que viene viajaré a Perú.Next year I will travel to Peru.Plan.
Future vs. ir a
In conversation, ir a plus an infinitive is more common for plans: Voy a viajar. The simple future sounds more formal, more distant, or more certain.
Examples
- Voy a llamarte mañana.I am going to call you tomorrow.Ir a + infinitive.
- Te llamaré mañana.I will call you tomorrow.Simple future.
Spanish around the world
- In spoken Mexican Spanish, ir a + infinitive and even the present tense are used much more than the simple future. The simple future is still essential in writing, news, and formal speech.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Yo hablarí mañana.
Correct: Yo hablaré mañana.
The yo ending is -é with an accent.
Incorrect: Yo tenderé mucho trabajo.
Correct: Yo tendré mucho trabajo.
Tener has the stem tendr-.
Incorrect: Nosotros hablaremos mañana.
Correct: Nosotros hablaremos mañana.
This is correct. The nosotros form has no accent.
Incorrect: Si llueva, no iré.
Correct: Si llueve, no iré.
After si, use the present indicative, not the subjunctive.
Remember the pattern
- Infinitive + é, ás, á, emos, án.
- Irregular stems: tendr-, har-, podr-, dir-, sabr-, vendr-.
- The future can also express probability.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the future tense used much in Mexico?
Less than ir a + infinitive in speech, but it is still common in writing and for promises.
How do I show probability?
Use the future: Estará enfermo means he is probably sick.
Does the future have irregular endings?
No. Only the stem is irregular, never the endings.
How do I say ‘I will’ to promise something?
Lo haré or Te lo prometo.
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Keep learning
Ir + A in Spanish: How to Talk About the Future
Say what you are going to do with one simple pattern: ir + a + infinitive. Plans, predictions, and “let’s.”
B1The Spanish Conditional
Hablaría, querría, podrías. Learn how to say “would” for polite requests and hypotheticals.
A1Spanish Present Tense: AR, ER and IR Verbs
Conjugate any regular verb in the present, then learn the stem changes and irregular yo forms you will meet next.