1. The future tense
(El futuro)
Las nuevas
microcomputadoras serán
aún más pequeñas.
2. 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
3. Notice the following chart:
The Future Tense
tomar comer
yo
tú
él, ella, Ud.
nosotros/as
vosotros/as
ellos/as, Uds.
tomaré
tomarás
tomará
tomaremos
tomaréis
tomarán
comeré
comerás
comerá
comeremos
comeréis
comerán
viviré
vivirás
vivirá
viviremos
viviréis
vivirán
vivir
4. le
escrib
habl
In the present tense, we might say . . .
español con el profesor,
En la clase,
o
o un cuento chistoso, y
o unas frases.
5. español con el profesor,aré
le
escrib
habl
In the future tense, we would say . . .
Esta tarde cuando llegue a casa,
o
o un cuento chistoso, y
o unas frases.
con mi mamá,
eré una revista, y
iré un mensaje electrónico.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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?
9. 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?
10. 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
hacer
d
ha
ecir
cer
- diré
dirás
dirá
diremos
diréis
dirán
- haré
harás
hará
haremos
haréis
harán
11. 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
poder
hab
pod
er
er
- habré, habrás, . . .
- podré, podrás, . . .
querer querer- querré, querrás, . . .
saber saber- sabré, sabrás, . . .
12. id
ten
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
salir
pon
sal
er
ir
- pondré, pondrás, . . .
- saldré, saldrás, . . .
tener er- tendré, tendrás, . . .
venir ven r - vendré, vendrás, . . .
d
d
d
13. 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.
