In Spanish, some of the most important irregular verbs in the future tense are those that modify their stems rather than using the full infinitive. While regular verbs simply tack on endings to the infinitive, irregulars change their stem and then add the standard endings: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án. This pattern covers several commonly used verbs, making it essential for accurate future tense formation.
- Irregular future verbs do not use the full infinitive as a stem.
- Their stems change, but they still get the same endings as regular verbs.
- Knowing these changes is key for some of the most frequent verbs in Spanish.
Key Irregular Future Stems
Here are the most common verbs with irregular future stems:
| Verb (Infinitive) | Meaning | Future Stem | Example (yo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decir | To say | Dir- | Diré (I will say) |
| Hacer | To do/make | Har- | Haré (I will do/make) |
| Poder | To be able | Podr- | Podré (I will be able) |
| Poner | To put | Pondr- | Pondré (I will put) |
| Querer | To want/love | Querr- | Querré (I will want) |
| Saber | To know | Sabr- | Sabré (I will know) |
| Salir | To leave/go out | Saldr- | Saldré (I will leave) |
| Tener | To have | Tendr- | Tendré (I will have) |
| Venir | To come | Vendr- | Vendré (I will come) |
All of these use the future endings on the modified stem (e.g., -ré for yo).
The future stem for 'tener' is 'tendr-'.
No, they use the same endings, just a different stem.
Examples in Context
Using salir (to leave), hacer (to do), and poder (to be able):
- Salir: Saldré, Saldrás, Saldrá, Saldremos, Saldréis, Saldrán
(I will leave, You will leave, etc.)
- Hacer: Haré, Harás, Hará, Haremos, Haréis, Harán
(I will do/make, You will do/make, etc.)
- Poder: Podré, Podrás, Podrá, Podremos, Podréis, Podrán
(I will be able, You will be able, etc.)
The future root for 'hacer' is 'har-'.
Correct forms are 'Podremos' and 'Podrán' (with the irregular stem).
Irregular vs. Regular Verbs
| Aspect | Regular Verbs | Irregular Verbs |
|---|---|---|
| Stem in Future | Infinitive | Modified stem |
| Typical Stems | -ar, -er, -ir (full) | dir-, har-, podr-, pondr-, etc. |
| Endings | -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án | -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án |
Querr-, Sabr-, and Tendr- are irregular future stems.
No, 'salir' uses the irregular stem 'saldr-' for the future.
Conclusion
Understanding irregular future stems is essential for mastering the Spanish future tense, especially for some of the most commonly used verbs.
- Irregular verbs modify their stems (e.g., tener → tendr-) but use regular future endings.
- Memorizing these key verbs will help you express future ideas accurately and confidently.
- Practice by conjugating and using these verbs in real-life future scenarios.