The simple future tense in Spanish is used to talk about actions that will happen, express intentions, make predictions, or even speculate about the present. It is straightforward because you add the future endings to the infinitive form of the verb, regardless of whether it ends in -ar, -er, or -ir.
- The same set of endings is used for all verbs: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án.
- The endings are added directly to the infinitive, without any stem changes.
- The first-person singular form (yo) always ends in -é.
Here’s a table comparing the endings in Spanish with their English equivalents:
| Spanish Ending | Example (hablar) | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -é | yo hablaré | Yo hablaré con ella. | I will speak with her. |
| -ás | tú hablarás | Tú hablarás mañana. | You will speak tomorrow. |
| -á | él/ella hablará | Ella hablará hoy. | She will speak today. |
| -emos | nosotros hablaremos | Nosotros hablaremos juntos. | We will speak together. |
| -éis | vosotros hablaréis | Vosotros hablaréis pronto. | You all will speak soon. |
| -án | ellos hablarán | Ellos hablarán después. | They will speak later. |
Here are the Spanish and English subject pronouns for reference:
| Spanish Pronoun | English Pronoun |
|---|---|
| yo | I |
| tú | you (singular, informal) |
| él / ella / usted | he / she / you (formal) |
| nosotros / nosotras | we |
| vosotros / vosotras | you (plural, informal) |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | they / you (plural, formal) |
Let's examine the usage of the simple future tense with examples:
. Talking about actions that will happen
- Nosotros llegaremos tarde. (We will arrive late.)
- Haré la tarea esta noche. (I will do the homework tonight.)
. Expressing intentions
- Querré ayudarte mañana. (I will want to help you tomorrow.)
- Buscaré un nuevo empleo. (I will look for a new job.)
. Making predictions
- Lloverá en la tarde. (It will rain in the afternoon.)
- Ellos ganarán el partido. (They will win the game.)
. Expressing probability or speculation
- ¿Quién será? (Who could it be?)
- Serán las ocho. (It’s probably eight o’clock.)
. Using Irregular Verbs
Spanish has some common irregular verbs in the future tense. Their stems change, but the endings stay the same. Here are a few examples:
| Infinitive | Stem | yo Form | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tener | tendr- | tendré | I will have a car. |
| hacer | har- | haré | I will do my best. |
| poder | podr- | podré | I will be able to come. |
| decir | dir- | diré | I will tell you later. |
| Spanish Sentence | English Sentence |
|---|---|
| Tendré un coche nuevo. | I will have a new car. |
| Haré lo mejor posible. | I will do my best. |
| Podré venir a la fiesta. | I will be able to come to the party. |
| Diré la verdad. | I will tell the truth. |
Summary
The Spanish simple future tense is an easy way to talk about what will happen, express intentions, make predictions, or even guess about the present. Just add the endings to the infinitive, watch out for a few irregular stems, and you’re ready to go!
She is probably at home. Ella ______ en casa. (estar)
estará
Add -á to the infinitive 'estar' for ella in the future: 'estará'.
It will rain in the afternoon. ______ en la tarde. (llover)
Lloverá
'Llover' is impersonal; add -á to the infinitive and use it alone: 'Lloverá'.
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- Example (hablar): yo hablaré
- English Example: I will speak with her.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
