The German Futur I is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future, as well as to express intentions, make predictions, or show something that is expected to occur. It is formed using the present tense of werden plus the infinitive of the main verb.
How to Form
The pattern is:
[conjugated werden] + [main verb in infinitive]
You conjugate werden according to the subject, and the main verb stays in its infinitive form at the end of the sentence.
Example:
- Ich werde... (I will...)
- Du wirst... (You will...)
- Er/sie/es wird... (He/she/it will...)
- Wir werden... (We will...)
- Ihr werdet... (You all will...)
- Sie werden... (They/you formal will...)
Simple Example (with gehen = “to go”)
| German Pronoun | Example in German | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | Ich werde gehen. | I will go. |
| Du | Du wirst gehen. | You will go. |
| Er | Er wird gehen. | He will go. |
| Wir | Wir werden gehen. | We will go. |
| Ihr | Ihr werdet gehen. | You all will go. |
| Sie | Sie werden gehen. | They will go. |
Usage
. Stating Future Actions
Use Futur I simply to state what will happen later.
Example:
| German Pronoun | Example in German | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | Ich werde morgen nach Berlin fahren. | I will travel to Berlin tomorrow. |
| Wir | Wir werden bald essen. | We will eat soon. |
Which German sentence uses Futur I to state a future action?
Ich werde morgen nach Berlin fahren.
The sentence uses 'werde fahren' to indicate a future action.
. Making Predictions
Futur I is often used to predict something about the future.
Example:
| German Pronoun | Example in German | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Es | Es wird regnen. | It will rain. |
| Du | Du wirst Erfolg haben. | You will succeed. |
. Expressing Intention
You can use Futur I to express what you plan or intend to do.
Example:
| German Pronoun | Example in German | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | Ich werde mehr lernen. | I will study more. |
| Wir | Wir werden das Projekt abschließen. | We will complete the project. |
. Talking About Assumptions or Guessing
Futur I can express a guess or assumption about the present—not just the future. It’s like saying “must be” or “I suppose.”
Example:
| German Pronoun | Example in German | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Er | Er wird zu Hause sein. | He’s probably at home. |
| Sie | Sie wird müde sein. | She must be tired. |
Here, the use of Futur I shows the speaker’s assumption rather than a definite fact.
Which German sentence shows a present assumption using Futur I?
Er wird zu Hause sein.
'Er wird zu Hause sein' suggests the speaker assumes he is probably at home.
Word Order
The finite verb werden always comes in the second position of the sentence, and the main verb’s infinitive goes to the very end.
Example:
- Morgen werde ich ins Kino gehen. (Tomorrow I will go to the movies.)
- Du wirst später einkaufen gehen. (You will go shopping later.)
Time Expressions
Futur I often appears with words that indicate the future:
- morgen (tomorrow)
- nächste Woche (next week)
- später (later)
- bald (soon)
- in zwei Tagen (in two days)
- zukünftig (in the future)
Summary
| Point | Explanation | Example (German) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation | werden (conj.) + [infinitive] | Ich werde lesen. | I will read. |
| Future Actions | Simple statement of future | Wir werden kommen. | We will come. |
| Predictions | Guess about the future | Es wird schneien. | It will snow. |
| Intentions | Expressing plans | Ich werde sparen. | I will save. |
| Assumptions | Guess about present | Er wird beschäftigt sein. | He must be busy. |
The German Futur I is a straightforward way to express actions or situations that lie ahead, as well as to make forecasts or state intentions.
Flashcards (1 of 19)
- English Translation: I will go.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
