The simple future tense in Spanish (el futuro simple) is used to express actions that will happen in the future, make predictions, or express probabilities about the present. Unlike English, where a separate word ("will") is used, Spanish attaches endings directly to the infinitive of the verb.
- Used for: future actions, predictions, assumptions/probabilities
- Formed by adding endings to the full infinitive for all regular verbs
- Same endings for -ar, -er, -ir verbs: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án
-é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án
The full infinitive
Regular Verb Conjugation
Take any regular verb (hablar, comer, vivir), leave it in the infinitive, and add the endings:
| Subject | Ending | Example: Hablar |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | -é | hablaré (I will speak) |
| Tú | -ás | hablarás (You will speak) |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | -á | hablará (He/She/You will speak) |
| Nosotros | -emos | hablaremos (We will speak) |
| Vosotros | -éis | hablaréis (You all will speak) |
| Ellos/Uds. | -án | hablarán (They will speak) |
- Works identically for: hablaré, comeré, viviré (I will speak, eat, live)
trabajaré, trabajarás, trabajará, trabajaremos, trabajaréis, trabajarán
All -ar, -er, -ir verbs
Examples
| Subject | Verb | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Viajar | Viajaré | I will travel |
| Tú | Beber | Beberás | You will drink |
| Él | Escribir | Escribirá | He will write |
- Viajaré, Beberás, Escribirá (from viajar, beber, escribir)
'They will study' from 'estudiar'
Irregular Verbs
Some verbs have irregular stems but use the same endings:
| Verb | Stem | Example Yo |
|---|---|---|
| Decir | Dir- | Diré (I will say) |
| Hacer | Har- | Haré (I will do/make) |
| Poder | Podr- | Podré (I will be able) |
| Poner | Pondr- | Pondré (I will put) |
| Querer | Querr- | Querré (I will want) |
| Saber | Sabr- | Sabré (I will know) |
| Salir | Saldr- | Saldré (I will leave) |
| Tener | Tendr- | Tendré (I will have) |
| Venir | Vendr- | Vendré (I will come) |
- Just replace the infinitive's root with the stem and add normal endings.
Stem is 'tendr-', 'I will have' is 'tendré'
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct simple future form:
- (Viajar, nosotros) a España el próximo verano.
- (Decir, tú) la verdad mañana.
- (Comer, ellos) en un restaurante nuevo.
- (Hacer, yo) mi tarea después de la cena.
- (Ser, ella) una gran doctora.
Saldréis temprano
Conclusion
The Spanish simple future is a neat and logical system: add endings to the infinitive for all regular verbs, and learn a few irregular stems for common verbs.
- Attach endings -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to any verb's infinitive for regular future forms.
- Key verbs with irregular stems include decir → dir-, tener → tendr-, hacer → har-.
- Use it for simple future actions, predictions, and assumptions.