Talking About the Future: Ir A + Infinitive

Learn the easiest way to talk about future plans and intentions in Spanish using "ir a" (going to)!

What is "Ir A + Infinitive"?

Pattern: Ir (conjugated) + a + infinitive verb

English equivalent: "going to" do something

Examples:

• Voy a comer (I'm going to eat)
• Vas a estudiar (You're going to study)
• Va a llover (It's going to rain)

This is the SIMPLEST way to talk about the future in Spanish!

Conjugating IR (To Go)

First, you need to know how to conjugate "ir":

Note: IR is highly irregular - you just have to memorize it!

The Pattern: IR + A + Infinitive

Structure

Subject + IR (conjugated) + A + Infinitive

The infinitive verb stays in its base form (-ar, -er, -ir):

• Yo voy a comer (I'm going to eat)
• Tú vas a trabajar (You're going to work)
• Él va a dormir (He's going to sleep)
• Nosotros vamos a viajar (We're going to travel)
• Ellos van a estudiar (They're going to study)

Examples with All Persons

Yo (I)

• Voy a comer (I'm going to eat)
• Voy a estudiar (I'm going to study)
• Voy a dormir (I'm going to sleep)
• Voy a trabajar mañana (I'm going to work tomorrow)
• Voy a ver una película (I'm going to watch a movie)

Tú (You - informal)

• Vas a comer (You're going to eat)
• Vas a estudiar (You're going to study)
• ¿Vas a venir? (Are you going to come?)
• ¿Qué vas a hacer? (What are you going to do?)
• No vas a creer esto (You're not going to believe this)

Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)

• Va a llover (It's going to rain)
• María va a venir (María is going to come)
• Él va a trabajar (He's going to work)
• Usted va a entender (You're going to understand)
• Va a ser difícil (It's going to be difficult)

Nosotros/as (We)

• Vamos a comer (We're going to eat)
• Vamos a viajar (We're going to travel)
• Vamos a estudiar (We're going to study)
• ¿Vamos a salir? (Are we going to go out?)
• Vamos a ver (We're going to see / Let's see)

Note: "Vamos a" can also mean "Let's...!" for suggestions!

Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all)

• Van a venir (They're going to come)
• Van a estudiar (They're going to study)
• Ustedes van a aprender (You all are going to learn)
• Van a llegar tarde (They're going to arrive late)
• ¿Van a ir? (Are they going to go?)

When to Use IR A + Infinitive

1. Immediate Future Plans

Things you're going to do soon:

• Voy a comer ahora (I'm going to eat now)
• Voy a salir en cinco minutos (I'm going to leave in five minutes)
• Va a llover pronto (It's going to rain soon)

2. Later Today / This Week

Things happening in the near future:

• Voy a trabajar esta tarde (I'm going to work this afternoon)
• Vamos a salir esta noche (We're going to go out tonight)
• Van a venir mañana (They're going to come tomorrow)
• Va a llamar más tarde (He/She is going to call later)

3. Future Plans and Intentions

Things you intend to do:

• Voy a estudiar español (I'm going to study Spanish)
• Vamos a viajar a España (We're going to travel to Spain)
• Va a comprar una casa (He/She is going to buy a house)
• Van a casarse (They're going to get married)

4. Predictions

What you think will happen:

• Va a llover (It's going to rain)
• Va a ser difícil (It's going to be difficult)
• Vas a estar bien (You're going to be okay)
• Va a funcionar (It's going to work)

Making It Negative

Pattern: NO + IR + A + Infinitive

Just add "no" before the conjugated form of "ir":

• No voy a comer (I'm not going to eat)
• No vas a creer esto (You're not going to believe this)
• No va a venir (He/She is not going to come)
• No vamos a salir (We're not going to go out)
• No van a estudiar (They're not going to study)

Asking Questions

Question Pattern

¿ + IR (conjugated) + A + Infinitive + ?

Simply add question marks and raise your intonation:

• ¿Vas a comer? (Are you going to eat?)
• ¿Va a llover? (Is it going to rain?)
• ¿Vamos a salir? (Are we going to go out?)
• ¿Van a venir? (Are they going to come?)

Question Words with IR A

¿Qué vas a hacer? (What are you going to do?)

• ¿Qué vas a comer? (What are you going to eat?)
• ¿Qué vamos a hacer? (What are we going to do?)

¿Cuándo vas a...? (When are you going to...?)

• ¿Cuándo vas a venir? (When are you going to come?)
• ¿Cuándo va a empezar? (When is it going to start?)

¿Dónde vas a...? (Where are you going to...?)

• ¿Dónde vas a estar? (Where are you going to be?)
• ¿Dónde van a comer? (Where are they going to eat?)

¿Con quién vas a...? (With whom are you going to...?)

• ¿Con quién vas a ir? (With whom are you going to go?)

Time Expressions for Future

Use these with "ir a" to specify when:

Near Future

Examples:

• Voy a comer ahora (I'm going to eat now)
• Va a llegar pronto (He/She is going to arrive soon)
• Vamos a salir en cinco minutos (We're going to leave in five minutes)

Today

Examples:

• Voy a trabajar esta tarde (I'm going to work this afternoon)
• Vamos a comer al mediodía (We're going to eat at noon)

Tomorrow and Beyond

Examples:

• Voy a viajar mañana (I'm going to travel tomorrow)
• Vamos a salir este fin de semana (We're going to go out this weekend)
• Van a casarse el próximo año (They're going to get married next year)

Common Verbs Used with IR A

Daily Activities

• ir (to go) → Voy a ir (I'm going to go)
• comer (to eat) → Voy a comer (I'm going to eat)
• dormir (to sleep) → Voy a dormir (I'm going to sleep)
• trabajar (to work) → Voy a trabajar (I'm going to work)
• estudiar (to study) → Voy a estudiar (I'm going to study)
• descansar (to rest) → Voy a descansar (I'm going to rest)

Actions and Events

• hacer (to do/make) → Voy a hacer (I'm going to do)
• ver (to see/watch) → Voy a ver (I'm going to watch)
• comprar (to buy) → Voy a comprar (I'm going to buy)
• viajar (to travel) → Voy a viajar (I'm going to travel)
• venir (to come) → Vas a venir (You're going to come)
• salir (to go out) → Vamos a salir (We're going to go out)

States and Changes

• ser (to be) → Va a ser (It's going to be)
• estar (to be) → Voy a estar (I'm going to be)
• tener (to have) → Voy a tener (I'm going to have)
• llover (to rain) → Va a llover (It's going to rain)

"Vamos a" = Let's...!

Special use: "Vamos a" can mean "Let's..." for suggestions!

Making Suggestions

• ¡Vamos a comer! (Let's eat!)
• ¡Vamos a bailar! (Let's dance!)
• ¡Vamos a ver! (Let's see!)
• ¡Vamos a salir! (Let's go out!)
• ¡Vamos a divertirnos! (Let's have fun!)

Note: The meaning is clear from context and intonation!

Practice Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Weekend Plans

Ana: ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? Luis: Voy a visitar a mis padres. ¿Y tú? Ana: Yo voy a estudiar el sábado, pero el domingo voy a salir con amigos. Luis: ¿Adónde van a ir? Ana: Vamos a ir al cine. ¿Quieres venir? Luis: No puedo. Pero gracias.

Translation: Ana: What are you going to do this weekend? Luis: I'm going to visit my parents. And you? Ana: I'm going to study on Saturday, but on Sunday I'm going to go out with friends. Luis: Where are you all going to go? Ana: We're going to go to the movies. Do you want to come? Luis: I can't. But thanks.

Dialogue 2: Tomorrow's Plans

María: ¿Vas a trabajar mañana? Juan: Sí, voy a trabajar por la mañana. ¿Por qué? María: Porque voy a hacer una fiesta mañana por la noche. Juan: ¡Qué bien! ¿A qué hora va a ser? María: Va a empezar a las 8. ¿Vas a venir? Juan: Sí, claro. Voy a llevar algo de beber. María: Perfecto. Nos vemos mañana.

Translation: María: Are you going to work tomorrow? Juan: Yes, I'm going to work in the morning. Why? María: Because I'm going to have a party tomorrow night. Juan: How nice! What time is it going to be? María: It's going to start at 8. Are you going to come? Juan: Yes, of course. I'm going to bring something to drink. María: Perfect. See you tomorrow.

Dialogue 3: Weather Prediction

Pedro: Creo que va a llover. Sofia: ¿De verdad? No creo. El cielo está despejado. Pedro: Sí, pero el pronóstico dice que va a llover esta tarde. Sofia: Entonces voy a llevar paraguas. Pedro: Buena idea. Yo también voy a llevar uno.

Translation: Pedro: I think it's going to rain. Sofia: Really? I don't think so. The sky is clear. Pedro: Yes, but the forecast says it's going to rain this afternoon. Sofia: Then I'm going to bring an umbrella. Pedro: Good idea. I'm also going to bring one.

Dialogue 4: Making Suggestions

A: Estoy aburrido. ¿Qué vamos a hacer? B: No sé. ¿Vamos a ver una película? A: No tengo ganas. ¿Vamos a salir? B: Vale. ¿Vamos a caminar por el parque? A: Buena idea. Vamos a salir ahora. B: Perfecto. Voy a buscar mis zapatos.

Translation: A: I'm bored. What are we going to do? B: I don't know. Shall we watch a movie? A: I don't feel like it. Shall we go out? B: Okay. Shall we walk through the park? A: Good idea. Let's leave now. B: Perfect. I'm going to look for my shoes.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Conjugate IR + A

Fill in the correct form of "ir":

1. Yo ___ a comer (I'm going to eat)
2. Tú ___ a estudiar (You're going to study)
3. Ella ___ a venir (She's going to come)
4. Nosotros ___ a viajar (We're going to travel)
5. Ellos ___ a trabajar (They're going to work)

Answers:

1. voy
2. vas
3. va
4. vamos
5. van

Exercise 2: Make Complete Sentences

Use ir a + infinitive:

1. Yo / comer / mañana
2. Tú / estudiar / esta noche
3. Nosotros / salir / el sábado
4. Ellos / viajar / la próxima semana
5. Ella / trabajar / hoy

Answers:

1. Voy a comer mañana
2. Vas a estudiar esta noche
3. Vamos a salir el sábado
4. Van a viajar la próxima semana
5. Va a trabajar hoy / Ella va a trabajar hoy

Exercise 3: Make Negative

Change to negative:

1. Voy a comer
2. Vas a estudiar
3. Vamos a salir
4. Van a venir
5. Va a llover

Answers:

1. No voy a comer
2. No vas a estudiar
3. No vamos a salir
4. No van a venir
5. No va a llover

Exercise 4: Ask Questions

Make questions with these words:

1. tú / comer / qué
2. ustedes / ir / dónde
3. ella / venir / cuándo
4. nosotros / hacer / qué
5. ellos / salir / a qué hora

Answers:

1. ¿Qué vas a comer?
2. ¿Dónde van a ir (ustedes)?
3. ¿Cuándo va a venir (ella)?
4. ¿Qué vamos a hacer?
5. ¿A qué hora van a salir (ellos)?

Exercise 5: Translate to Spanish

1. I'm going to eat
2. Are you going to study?
3. We're going to travel tomorrow
4. They're not going to come
5. What are you going to do?

Answers:

1. Voy a comer
2. ¿Vas a estudiar?
3. Vamos a viajar mañana
4. No van a venir
5. ¿Qué vas a hacer?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake 1: Forgetting "A"

Wrong: ❌ Voy comer Right: ✅ Voy a comer (I'm going to eat)

Always include the "a"!

❌ Mistake 2: Conjugating the Second Verb

Wrong: ❌ Voy a como Right: ✅ Voy a comer (I'm going to eat)

The second verb stays in infinitive form!

❌ Mistake 3: Using Wrong Form of IR

Wrong: ❌ Yo va a comer Right: ✅ Yo voy a comer (I'm going to eat)

Match "ir" to the subject!

❌ Mistake 4: Confusing "Voy a" (Future) with "Voy a" (Going To Place)

Going somewhere: Voy a Madrid (I'm going to Madrid - place) Future action: Voy a comer (I'm going to eat - future)

Context makes it clear!

IR A vs. Future Tense

Beginner Level: Use IR A

At beginner level, ALWAYS use "ir a" for future:

• ✅ Voy a estudiar (I'm going to study)

Advanced Level: Future Tense

Later you'll learn the future tense:

• Estudiaré (I will study)

For now: Stick with "ir a" - it's simpler and more common in conversation!

Quick Reference

Pattern

Subject + IR (conjugated) + A + Infinitive

Your Action Plan

Week 1: Master IR Conjugation

• Memorize all forms of "ir"
• Practice "voy, vas, va, vamos, van"
• Say them out loud daily

Week 2: Add Infinitives

• Practice "ir a + infinitive"
• Use with common verbs (comer, trabajar, estudiar)
• Describe your plans for tomorrow

Week 3: Questions and Negatives

• Learn to ask "¿Vas a...?"
• Practice negative form "No voy a..."
• Ask others about their plans

Week 4: Natural Usage

• Use in real conversations
• Describe your weekend plans
• Talk about future intentions

Pro Tip: Every evening, plan tomorrow in Spanish: "Mañana voy a... después voy a... y por la noche voy a..." This daily practice makes the structure automatic!

Practice: When making any plan, immediately say it in Spanish: "I'm going to eat" → "Voy a comer." This builds instant translation skills!

Memory Trick:

• IR = irregular, must memorize
• A = always needed
• Infinitive = unchanged, stays in -ar/-er/-ir form

Think: "I'm going to [verb]" = Voy a [verb]

Remember: "Ir a + infinitive" is the easiest and most common way to talk about the future in Spanish! Master this pattern and you'll be able to talk about all your plans and intentions!