The future tense

(El futuro)Las nuevas

microcomputadoras serán aún más pequeñas.

hablar

hablar

hablar

hablar

hablar

hablar

ás

á

éis

án

emos

The Spanish future tense is formed with only one set of endings for the -ar, -er, and -ir verbs. For regular verbs, the endings are attached to the infinitive, as follows:

é

Again, the infinitive is the basis for all forms of regular verbs.

Notice that all forms except nosotros/as carry a written accent.

hablar hablará án

Notice the following chart:The Future Tense

tomar comer

yotú

él, ella, Ud.nosotros/asvosotros/as

ellos/as, Uds.

tomarétomarástomarátomaremostomaréistomarán

comerécomeráscomerácomeremoscomeréiscomerán

vivirévivirásviviráviviremosviviréisvivirán

vivir

le

escrib

habl

In the present tense, we might say . . .

español con el profesor,

En la clase,

o

oun cuento chistoso, y

o unas frases.

español con el profesor,

aré

le

escrib

habl

In the future tense, we would say . . .

Esta tarde cuando llegue a casa,o

oun cuento chistoso, y

o unas frases.

con mi mamá,

eré una revista, yiré un mensaje

electrónico.

Some Facts About the Future TenseAs in English, the Spanish future tense expresses what will happen in the future. The English equivalent is will + verb.

Estudiaré informática en la universidad.I will study computer science at the university.

Ustedes comprarán pronto otro disco duro.

You will buy a new hard drive soon.Keep in mind that in English the subject and will are often contracted: You’ll buy a new hard drive soon.

Some Facts About the Future TenseRemember, however, that the present tense is often used to express immediate future in Spanish.

El técnico viene para arreglar mi computadora hoy.

The technician will come (is coming) to fix my computer today.

Termino mi trabajo esta tarde.I will finish my paper this afternoon.

Some Facts About the Future TenseThe future may also be conveyed with the present tense of ir a + infinitive.

Voy a arreglar la computadora.I am going to fix the computer.

¿Vas a archivar ese documento?Are you going to save that document?

Some Facts About the Future TenseThe idea of willingness, sometimes expressed with the English future, cannot be expressed with the Spanish future tense. Use verbs like querer or the simple present tense to express willingness.

¿Quieres ayudarme con la impresora?

Will you help me with the printer?

¿Me traes el otro programa?Will you bring me the other program?

Irregular Verbs in the Future TenseIrregular verbs in the future are formed by adding the future endings to an irregular stem. The irregular stems can be grouped into three categories.

1. Drop two letters to form the stem of the future.

decir

hacer

d

ha

ecir

cer

- dirédirásdirá

diremosdiréisdirán

- haréharáshará

haremosharéisharán

Irregular Verbs in the Future TenseIrregular verbs in the future are formed by adding the future endings to an irregular stem. The irregular stems can be grouped into three categories.

2. The e of the infinitive ending is dropped to form the stem of the future.

haberpoder

habpod

erer- habré, habrás, . . .

- podré, podrás, . . .

querer querer- querré, querrás, . . .

saber saber- sabré, sabrás, . . .

idten

Irregular Verbs in the Future TenseIrregular verbs in the future are formed by adding the future endings to an irregular stem. The irregular stems can be grouped into three categories.

3. The e or the i of the infinitive ending is replaced by d to form the stem of the future.

ponersalir

ponsal

erir

- pondré, pondrás, . . .

- saldré, saldrás, . . .

tener er- tendré, tendrás, . . .

venir ven r - vendré, vendrás, . . .

ddd

A Special Use of the Future TenseProbability or conjecture with regard to the present is often expressed in Spanish with the future tense. This use of the future has many equivalents in English; for example: probably, may, I wonder, etc.

¿Dónde estará Antonio?I wonder where Antonio is?

Estará jugando juegos electrónicos.He’s probably playing computer games.

¿Qué hora será? What time must it be?

Serán las seis. It must be six.

FIN