Unidad Tres

The Future TenseThere are two ways to express future events in Spanish. The first way is to use the verb Ir to tell what is going to happen. To do this, we use a simple formula; a form of Ir + a + an unconjugated verb. For Example; Pittsburgh is going to win. = Pittsburgh va a ganar. This chapter you will learn how to say that something will happen by using the future tense. For Example; Pittsburgh will win.

Here are the correct endings for the future tense. Notice that the endings are the same for all three kinds of verbs!

Subject-AR, -ER, & -IR VerbsYo-T-sl, Ella, Usted-Nosotros-emosVosotros-isEllos, Ellas, Ustedes-n

The future tense is one of the easiest tenses to learn in Spanish. Not only does the future tense use the same endings for all three verb types, but you dont even need to remove the AR, -ER, or -IR!Thats right! When you conjugate in the future tense you dont remove the AR, -ER, or IR! All that you need to do is add the subject ending.

Heres an an example of the conjugation process. Well use the yo form for this example.CANTARTo singSimply attach the ending which matches the subject. Thats it!TOSINGI will sing

-ER and -IR verbs work the same way as -AR verbs.COMERTo eatVIVIRTo liveJust add the correct ending.To liveeTo liveeNThey will liveYou will eatS

Heres a full conjugation chart for all 3 verb types.

Now you try it! On a piece of paper, or in your head, conjugate the following and then click for the correct answer.He will ask. (Preguntar)

I will study. (Estudiar)

They will run. (Correr)

You (inf) will write. (Escribir)l preguntar.Yo estudiar.Ellos corrern.T escribirs.

IrregularsSome verbs are irregular in the future tense. The most common are listed here. Conjugate these verbs by adding the regular future tense ending to the new stem. Note that any verb which contains one of these verbs (like mantener, which contains tener) will follow the same pattern. Thus the stem for mantener in the future is mantendr-.

VerbNew stemSalirSaldr-TenerTendr-PoderPodr-PonerPondr-SaberSabr-QuererQuerr-VenirVendr-HacerHar-HaberHabr-DecirDir-

Here are some examples;

Other Uses of the Future Tense Finally, note the following; For events that will occur very soon, it is common to use the present tense instead of the future tense. For example; Well leave today = Salimos hoy.There are no stem changers in the future tense!Even Estar, Ser, and Ir are regular in the future tense.The future tense may also be used to express something that is probable. For example; Shes probably at home = Estar en casa. I wonder if they want it? = Lo querrn?

El Fin!