Ir + A in Spanish: How to Talk About the Future
You do not need the Spanish future tense to talk about what is coming. In everyday speech, especially in Latin America, people say what they are going to do with ir + a + infinitive. It works exactly like “going to” in English, and it is one of the easiest patterns to learn.
Quick answer
- The pattern is ir + a + infinitive: Voy a estudiar. (I am going to study.)
- Only ir changes with the person: voy, vas, va, vamos, van
- Do not drop the a: Voy a comer, not
voy comer
How to build it
Conjugate ir for the person, add a, then put the second verb in the infinitive (the -ar, -er, or -ir form). The second verb never changes.
| Person | ir | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | Voy a estudiar. |
| tú | vas | ¿Vas a comer? |
| él, ella, usted | va | Ella va a llegar tarde. |
| nosotros | vamos | Vamos a salir. |
| ellos, ustedes | van | Van a viajar. |
Examples
- Voy a estudiar esta noche.I am going to study tonight.Yo: voy a.
- Mi mamá va a cocinar pozole.My mom is going to cook pozole.Ella: va a.
- Vamos a ver una película.We are going to watch a movie.Nosotros: vamos a.
- Mis primos van a llegar mañana.My cousins are going to arrive tomorrow.Ellos: van a.
When to use it
Use ir + a + infinitive for plans and intentions, and for things you are sure will happen soon. It also works for predictions based on what you see right now.
Examples
- Voy a visitar a mis abuelos el domingo.I am going to visit my grandparents on Sunday.A plan.
- Voy a pedir una limonada.I am going to order a lemonade.A decision you just made.
- Va a llover, mira esas nubes.It is going to rain, look at those clouds.A prediction from what you see.
Time words for plans
These words make it clear you are talking about the future. Put them at the start or at the end of the sentence.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| mañana | tomorrow |
| esta noche | tonight |
| más tarde | later |
| en un rato | in a little while |
| este fin de semana | this weekend |
| la próxima semana | next week |
| el año que viene | next year |
| pronto | soon |
Questions and negatives
Put no before the form of ir to make a negative. Questions work like any other question in Spanish.
Examples
- No voy a ir a la fiesta.I am not going to go to the party.No before voy.
- ¿Vas a venir mañana?Are you going to come tomorrow?A yes or no question.
- ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana?What are you going to do this weekend?A question word first.
Vamos a: let’s
Vamos a plus an infinitive can also mean “let’s.” Context tells you whether it is a plan or an invitation.
Examples
- ¡Vamos a comer!Let’s eat!An invitation.
- Vamos a empezar.Let’s begin.Common at the start of a class or meeting.
Ir a a place or ir a plus a verb
Do not confuse ir a plus an infinitive (going to do something) with ir a plus a place (going somewhere). The a stays in both. Before el, it contracts to al.
Examples
- Voy al mercado.I am going to the market.A plus el becomes al.
- Voy a la escuela.I am going to school.A la stays as it is.
- Voy a ir al mercado mañana.I am going to go to the market tomorrow.Both patterns in one sentence.
Spanish around the world
- Speakers in Latin America use ir a very often. In Spain you hear it too, and the simple future is a bit more common in writing and formal speech.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Voy comer tacos.
Correct: Voy a comer tacos.
Do not drop the a. It connects ir to the infinitive.
Incorrect: Vamos a comemos.
Correct: Vamos a comer.
The second verb stays in the infinitive.
Incorrect: Ellos va a llegar tarde.
Correct: Ellos van a llegar tarde.
Ir must match the subject: ellos van.
Incorrect: Voy a el mercado.
Correct: Voy al mercado.
A plus el contracts to al.
The whole pattern
- Ir changes (voy, vas, va, vamos, van). The a and the infinitive stay the same.
- Add a time word like mañana or esta noche to make the future clear.
- Vamos a plus an infinitive can mean “let’s.”
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a real future tense in Spanish?
Yes, forms like hablaré and comeré exist. In everyday speech, especially in Latin America, ir a plus an infinitive is much more common for plans.
How do I say ‘was going to’?
Use the imperfect of ir: Iba a llamarte, pero me dormí. (I was going to call you, but I fell asleep.)
Can I use the present for the future?
Yes. Spanish often uses the present with a time word: Mañana trabajo hasta las seis. (Tomorrow I work until six.)
Does the ‘a’ ever change?
No. It stays the same for every person. Only ir changes.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
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