The Simple Future in Spanish

El futuro simple

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The simple future (hablaré) says what will happen. It is the easiest Spanish tense to build: add one set of endings to the whole infinitive, for -ar, -er and -ir verbs alike.

How to Form the Simple Future

Keep the infinitive and add the ending. The endings are the same for all three verb groups, and every form except nosotros has a written accent.

SubjectEndinghablarcomervivir
yo-éhablarécomeréviviré
tú-áshablaráscomerásvivirás
él/ella/usted-áhablarácomerávivirá
nosotros/as-emoshablaremoscomeremosviviremos
vosotros/as-éishablaréiscomeréisviviréis
ellos/ellas/ustedes-ánhablaráncomeránvivirán

Irregular Stems

Twelve common verbs change the stem, but the endings stay the same. Verbs built on them follow the same pattern: mantener gives mantendré, deshacer gives desharé.

InfinitiveStemyo formMeaning
tenertendr-tendréto have
ponerpondr-pondréto put
salirsaldr-saldréto go out
venirvendr-vendréto come
valervaldr-valdréto be worth
poderpodr-podréto be able to
sabersabr-sabréto know
cabercabr-cabréto fit
haberhabr-habráthere will be
quererquerr-querréto want
decirdir-diréto say
hacerhar-haréto do, to make

When to Use It

Besides future events, Spanish uses this tense to guess about the present, where English says 'probably' or 'must be'.

UseExampleTranslation
Future eventsEl tren saldrá a las ocho.The train will leave at eight.
PredictionsCreo que lloverá esta tarde.I think it will rain this afternoon.
PromisesTe llamaré en cuanto llegue.I'll call you as soon as I arrive.
Guesses about now¿Dónde está Ana? Estará en el trabajo.Where is Ana? She's probably at work.
Wondering¿Qué hora será?I wonder what time it is.

Test yourself

5 quick questions on this lesson. How many can you get right?

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Question 1 of 5

Choose the right answer.

Mañana yo ___ con mi jefe. (hablar)

Simple Future vs Ir a + Infinitive

In everyday Spanish, ir a + infinitive is more common for plans and for things you can see coming. The simple future sounds more distant, more certain or more formal, and is the normal choice for promises and general predictions.

Esta noche voy a ver una película.Tonight I'm going to watch a film.A plan already made.
Mira esas nubes: va a llover.Look at those clouds: it's going to rain.Evidence you can see now.
Algún día viviré en la costa.One day I'll live on the coast.A hope about the distant future.
En 2050 habrá más coches eléctricos.In 2050 there will be more electric cars.A general prediction.

Negatives and Questions

Put no before the verb, and any object pronouns between no and the verb. Questions only need question marks and intonation.

No llegaré tarde, te lo prometo.I won't be late, I promise.
Nunca lo sabremos.We'll never know.
¿Vendrás a la fiesta el sábado?Will you come to the party on Saturday?

Common Mistakes

Watch out for these errors.

  • Regularising irregular stems: say tendré and diré, not 'teneré' or 'deciré'.
  • Dropping the accent: hablará (will speak) is a different form from hablara (subjunctive).
  • Making habrá plural: say habrá problemas, not 'habrán problemas'.
  • Using the future after cuando: say cuando llegue, te llamaré, not 'cuando llegaré'.
  • Translating 'Shall I...?' with the future: Spanish uses the present, as in ¿Abro la ventana?

Example Sentences

El año que viene estudiaremos en Valencia.Next year we'll study in Valencia.
¿Me ayudarás con la mudanza?Will you help me with the move?
Mis padres vendrán en Navidad.My parents will come at Christmas.
No te preocupes, lo haré yo.Don't worry, I'll do it.
Mañana hará sol en todo el país.Tomorrow it will be sunny all over the country.
Tendrás hambre después del viaje.You must be hungry after the journey.A guess about the present.
Si estudias, aprobarás el examen.If you study, you'll pass the exam.
¿Podréis venir a las nueve?Will you all be able to come at nine?

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