What is the difference between the future tense and ir + a + infinitive?

Both express future events. Ir + a + infinitive (voy a comer) implies an imminent or planned action. The simple future (comeré) is more neutral or formal, and often used for promises, predictions, or more distant events.

How many irregular future stems are there?

About a dozen common ones: haber→habr-, poder→podr-, querer→querr-, saber→sabr-, caber→cabr-, tener→tendr-, venir→vendr-, poner→pondr-, salir→saldr-, valer→valdr-, decir→dir-, hacer→har-.

Can the future tense express present probability?

Yes — this is called the "conjectural future." ¿Cuántos años tendrá? (How old do you think he is?) / Estará en casa (He is probably at home). The context makes clear you are speculating, not predicting.

Are the future tense endings the same for all verb types?

Yes — -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs all add the same endings to the full infinitive: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án. This makes the future tense much simpler than the present or preterite.

When do Spanish speakers use the simple future vs the present tense for future plans?

The present is often used for imminent plans with a set time: El tren sale a las tres (The train leaves at three). The future is used for less certain or more distant plans, and for emphasis: Llegaré, te lo prometo (I will arrive, I promise you).

Futuro Simple

The Spanish Future Tense

Predictions, promises, and future plans

The Spanish simple future tense (el futuro simple) expresses what will happen. It is formed by adding endings directly to the infinitive, making it one of the easiest tenses to form.

In everyday speech, Spaniards often use ir + a + infinitive (voy a comer = I am going to eat) for near-future plans. The simple future tends to carry a more emphatic or certain tone.

The future tense also expresses probability or wonder in the present: ¿Qué hora será? (I wonder what time it is.) / Estará en casa. (He is probably at home.)

When to use the Future tense

Future events and plans: Mañana hablaré con el director.
Promises and commitments: Te llamaré esta noche. (I will call you tonight.)
Predictions: En 2050, la tecnología cambiará todo.
Present probability or speculation: ¿Dónde estará Juan? (Where can Juan be? / I wonder where Juan is.)
Conditional main clauses: Si estudias, aprobarás. (If you study, you will pass.)

How to form the Future tense

-AR verbs

Pronoun	Ending
yo	hablaré
tú	hablarás
él/ella	hablará
nosotros	hablaremos
vosotros	hablaréis
ellos/ellas	hablarán

-ER verbs

Pronoun	Ending
yo	comeré
tú	comerás
él/ella	comerá
nosotros	comeremos
vosotros	comeréis
ellos/ellas	comerán

-IR verbs

Pronoun	Ending
yo	viviré
tú	vivirás
él/ella	vivirá
nosotros	viviremos
vosotros	viviréis
ellos/ellas	vivirán

All verb types use the same endings (-é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án) added to the full infinitive. Irregular stems include: haber→habr-, poder→podr-, querer→querr-, saber→sabr-, tener→tendr-, venir→vendr-, decir→dir-, hacer→har-, salir→saldr-.

"El año que viene viviré en España." Next year I will live in Spain.

Common time signals

mañana
pasado mañana
la próxima semana
el mes que viene
el año que viene
pronto
en el futuro
algún día
dentro de + time
en + year

Top 20 verbs in the Future tense

ser to be (essential/permanent)

yo seré tú serás él/ella será

estar to be (state/location)

yo estaré tú estarás él/ella estará

tener to have

yo tendré tú tendrás él/ella tendrá

hacer to do / to make

yo haré tú harás él/ella hará

poder to be able to / can

yo podré tú podrás él/ella podrá

decir to say / to tell

yo diré tú dirás él/ella dirá

ir to go

yo iré tú irás él/ella irá

ver to see

yo veré tú verás él/ella verá

dar to give

yo daré tú darás él/ella dará

saber to know (facts)

yo sabré tú sabrás él/ella sabrá

querer to want / to love

yo querré tú querrás él/ella querrá

llegar to arrive

yo llegaré tú llegarás él/ella llegará

pasar to pass / to happen / to spend (time)

yo pasaré tú pasarás él/ella pasará

deber to owe / must / should

yo deberé tú deberás él/ella deberá

poner to put / to place

yo pondré tú pondrás él/ella pondrá

parecer to seem / to appear

yo pareceré tú parecerás él/ella parecerá

quedar to stay / to remain / to be left

yo quedaré tú quedarás él/ella quedará

creer to believe / to think

yo creeré tú creerás él/ella creerá

hablar to speak / to talk

yo hablaré tú hablarás él/ella hablará

llevar to carry / to take / to wear

yo llevaré tú llevarás él/ella llevará

Showing 20 of 500 verbs. Browse by category to explore more.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the future tense and ir + a + infinitive?: Both express future events. Ir + a + infinitive (voy a comer) implies an imminent or planned action. The simple future (comeré) is more neutral or formal, and often used for promises, predictions, or more distant events.
How many irregular future stems are there?: About a dozen common ones: haber→habr-, poder→podr-, querer→querr-, saber→sabr-, caber→cabr-, tener→tendr-, venir→vendr-, poner→pondr-, salir→saldr-, valer→valdr-, decir→dir-, hacer→har-.
Can the future tense express present probability?: Yes — this is called the "conjectural future." ¿Cuántos años tendrá? (How old do you think he is?) / Estará en casa (He is probably at home). The context makes clear you are speculating, not predicting.
Are the future tense endings the same for all verb types?: Yes — -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs all add the same endings to the full infinitive: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án. This makes the future tense much simpler than the present or preterite.
When do Spanish speakers use the simple future vs the present tense for future plans?: The present is often used for imminent plans with a set time: El tren sale a las tres (The train leaves at three). The future is used for less certain or more distant plans, and for emphasis: Llegaré, te lo prometo (I will arrive, I promise you).