The future tense

(El futuro)
Las nuevas
microcomputadoras serán
aún más pequeñas.
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:
hablaré hablar emos
hablar ás hablaréis
hablar á hablarán
hablará hablar án
Again, the infinitive is the basis for all forms of regular
verbs.
Notice that all forms except nosotros/as carry a written accent.
 The Future Tense
Notice the following chart:
tomar comer vivir

yo tomaré comeré viviré

tú tomarás comerás vivirás
él, ella, Ud. tomará comerá vivirá
nosotros/as tomaremos comeremos viviremos
vosotros/as tomaréis comeréis viviréis
ellos/as, Uds. tomarán comerán vivirán
In the present tense, we might say . . .

En la clase,
hablo español con el profesor,
leo un cuento chistoso, y
escribo unas frases.
In the future tense, we would say . . .

Esta tarde cuando llegue a casa,

habloaré
español
con micon
mamá,
el profesor,
leeré
o un una
cuento
revista,
chistoso,
y y
escribo
iréunas
un mensaje
frases. electrónico.
 Some Facts About the Future Tense
As 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 Tense
Remember, 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 Tense
The 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 Tense
The 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 Tense
Irregular 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 decir
- diré diremos
dirás diréis
dirá dirán
hacer ha cer
- haré haremos
harás haréis
hará harán
 Irregular Verbs in the Future Tense
Irregular 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.
haber haber- habré, habrás, . . .
poder poder- podré, podrás, . . .
querer querer- querré, querrás, . . .
saber saber- sabré, sabrás, . . .
 Irregular Verbs in the Future Tense
Irregular 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.
poner ponder- pondré, pondrás, . . .
salir saldir - saldré, saldrás, . . .
tener tender- tendré, tendrás, . . .
venir vendir - vendré, vendrás, . . .
 A Special Use of the Future Tense
Probability 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.