Talking About the Future in Spanish

Master expressing future plans! Learn to use IR A + infinitive to say what you're going to do - the most common way beginners talk about the future.

The Simple Future: IR A + Infinitive

The easiest way to talk about the future in Spanish is:

IR (conjugated) + A + INFINITIVE = "going to" do something

This is like English "going to" and is used for:

• Near future plans
• Intentions
• Predictions

Pattern: Subject + IR + A + infinitive

Conjugating IR (To Go)

IR is irregular! You must memorize it:

Key: Only IR changes! The A never changes, and the second verb stays as infinitive.

How to Use IR A

Formula

IR (conjugated) + A + VERB (infinitive)

When to Use IR A

Near future plans:

Intentions:

Predictions:

Common Future Expressions

Today and Tomorrow

Examples:

• Voy a estudiar esta noche. (I'm going to study tonight.)
• Vamos a salir mañana. (We're going to leave tomorrow.)

This Week/Month/Year

Examples:

• Voy a viajar este fin de semana. (I'm going to travel this weekend.)
• Va a empezar el próximo mes. (It's going to start next month.)

Making Questions

Question Format

¿ + IR (conjugated) + A + INFINITIVE ?

Question Words with IR A

Negative Form

Making It Negative

NO + IR + A + INFINITIVE

Examples:

• No voy a trabajar mañana. (I'm not going to work tomorrow.)
• No vamos a estudiar hoy. (We're not going to study today.)

Common Verbs with IR A

Everyday Activities

With Object Pronouns

Pronoun Placement

Pronouns can go in TWO places:

Option 1: Attached to infinitive

Option 2: Before IR

Both are correct! Choose whichever sounds better.

Practical Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Weekend Plans

English: A: What are you going to do this weekend? B: I'm going to visit my parents. A: How nice! When are you going to go? B: I'm going to leave Friday night. A: And when are you going to return? B: I'm going to return Sunday afternoon. A: Have a good time!

Spanish: A: ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? B: Voy a visitar a mis padres. A: ¡Qué bien! ¿Cuándo vas a ir? B: Voy a salir el viernes por la noche. A: ¿Y cuándo vas a regresar? B: Voy a regresar el domingo por la tarde. A: ¡Que te diviertas!

Dialogue 2: Making Plans

English: A: Are we going to study together tonight? B: I can't tonight. I'm going to work. A: What time are you going to finish? B: I'm going to finish at nine. A: Then are we going to study tomorrow? B: Yes, perfect. What time? A: We're going to meet at three. Okay? B: Okay, see you tomorrow!

Spanish: A: ¿Vamos a estudiar juntos esta noche? B: No puedo esta noche. Voy a trabajar. A: ¿A qué hora vas a terminar? B: Voy a terminar a las nueve. A: ¿Entonces vamos a estudiar mañana? B: Sí, perfecto. ¿A qué hora? A: Vamos a reunirnos a las tres. ¿Está bien? B: Está bien, ¡hasta mañana!

Dialogue 3: Weather Prediction

English: A: What's the weather going to be like tomorrow? B: I think it's going to rain. A: Really? Then I'm not going to go to the beach. B: What are you going to do instead? A: I'm going to stay home and watch movies. B: Good idea! I'm going to do the same.

Spanish: A: ¿Cómo va a estar el tiempo mañana? B: Creo que va a llover. A: ¿En serio? Entonces no voy a ir a la playa. B: ¿Qué vas a hacer en su lugar? A: Voy a quedarme en casa y ver películas. B: ¡Buena idea! Voy a hacer lo mismo.

IR A vs Present Tense for Future

Spanish can use present tense for near future too:

Both are correct! IR A is more explicit about future intention.

Other Future Time Expressions

Later Today

Examples:

• Voy a comer más tarde. (I'm going to eat later.)
• Vamos a salir pronto. (We're going to leave soon.)

Specific Times

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake 1: Conjugating both verbs

• Wrong: "Voy a como"
• Right: "Voy a comer"
• Keep the second verb as infinitive!

❌ Mistake 2: Forgetting A

• Wrong: "Voy comer"
• Right: "Voy a comer"
• Always need the A!

❌ Mistake 3: Using wrong IR form

• Wrong: "Yo va a ir"
• Right: "Yo voy a ir"
• IR is irregular - learn the forms!

❌ Mistake 4: Confusion with physical "going"

• "Voy a la tienda" = I'm going TO the store (physical movement)
• "Voy a comprar" = I'm going TO buy (future action)
• Context makes it clear!

❌ Mistake 5: Using future tense when IR A is better

• For beginners, IR A is easier and more common
• Future tense (comeré, hablaré) comes later
• Stick with IR A for now!

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Conjugate IR A

Complete with correct form of IR:

1. Yo _____ a estudiar.
2. Tú _____ a comer.
3. Ella _____ a trabajar.
4. Nosotros _____ a salir.
5. Ellos _____ a venir.

Exercise 2: Form Complete Sentences

Use IR A + infinitive:

1. I / eat / tomorrow → _____
2. She / study / tonight → _____
3. We / travel / next week → _____
4. They / arrive / at 5 → _____

Exercise 3: Translate to Spanish

Use IR A:

1. I'm going to work tomorrow.
2. Are you going to come?
3. We're not going to eat now.
4. What are you going to do?
5. It's going to rain.

Exercise 4: Make Questions

Form questions with IR A:

1. (tú / hacer / qué) → ¿_____?
2. (ustedes / ir / dónde) → ¿_____?
3. (ella / llegar / cuándo) → ¿_____?
4. (nosotros / salir / a qué hora) → ¿_____?

Exercise 5: Fix the Mistakes

Correct these sentences:

1. Voy como mañana.
2. Yo va a ir.
3. Vamos a comemos.
4. No voy ir.

Answer Key

Exercise 1

1. voy a estudiar
2. vas a comer
3. va a trabajar
4. vamos a salir
5. van a venir

Exercise 2

1. Voy a comer mañana.
2. Ella va a estudiar esta noche. / Va a estudiar esta noche.
3. Vamos a viajar la próxima semana.
4. Ellos van a llegar a las cinco. / Van a llegar a las cinco.

Exercise 3

1. Voy a trabajar mañana.
2. ¿Vas a venir?
3. No vamos a comer ahora.
4. ¿Qué vas a hacer?
5. Va a llover.

Exercise 4

1. ¿Qué vas a hacer?
2. ¿Dónde van a ir? / ¿Dónde van a ir ustedes?
3. ¿Cuándo va a llegar? / ¿Cuándo va a llegar ella?
4. ¿A qué hora vamos a salir?

Exercise 5

1. Voy a comer mañana. (need A + infinitive)
2. Yo voy a ir. (yo = voy)
3. Vamos a comer. (infinitive, not conjugated)
4. No voy a ir. (need A!)

Quick Reference: IR A + Infinitive

Formula

IR (conjugated) + A + INFINITIVE

Conjugations

• yo voy a
• tú vas a
• él/ella/usted va a
• nosotros/as vamos a
• vosotros/as vais a
• ellos/ellas/ustedes van a

Common Uses

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

Time Expressions

• mañana (tomorrow)
• esta noche (tonight)
• este fin de semana (this weekend)
• la próxima semana (next week)

Remember

✓ Only IR changes ✓ Always include A ✓ Keep infinitive as infinitive ✓ Works for near future plans

Pro Tips

💡 Tip 1: IR Never Changes Only IR conjugates A stays the same Infinitive stays the same Only one verb changes!

💡 Tip 2: Always Need A IR + A + infinitive Never forget the A! "Voy A comer"

💡 Tip 3: Learn IR Well IR is irregular Memorize all forms Very common verb!

💡 Tip 4: Use for Near Future Works great for plans Tomorrow, tonight, next week Most common way for beginners!

💡 Tip 5: Questions Easy Just add ¿ and ? "¿Vas a ir?" Same structure, question format!

Cultural Notes

📚 Future Planning: Spanish speakers use IR A constantly for future plans. It's more common in everyday speech than the formal future tense (which you'll learn later).

🗣️ Present for Future: Spanish also commonly uses present tense for near future, especially with time expressions: "Mañana voy" (Tomorrow I go) is just as common as "Mañana voy a ir" (Tomorrow I'm going to go).

🌍 Regional Variations:

• IR A is universal across all Spanish-speaking regions
• No regional differences in usage or conjugation
• Exactly the same everywhere!

💭 Spontaneous Plans: IR A is perfect for expressing spontaneous decisions: "Voy a comer ahora" (I'm going to eat now) shows you just decided.

Next Steps

After mastering IR A + infinitive:

1. ✅ Learn the formal future tense (comeré, hablaré)
2. ✅ Study future time expressions in depth
3. ✅ Practice conditional tense (would)
4. ✅ Master expressing probability
5. ✅ Learn to make promises and predictions

4-Week Action Plan

Week 1: Conjugating IR

• Day 1-2: Memorize all IR forms
• Day 3-4: Practice IR in sentences
• Day 5-7: Use IR comfortably

Week 2: IR A + Infinitive

• Day 1-3: Master the formula
• Day 4-5: Practice with common verbs
• Day 6-7: Make your own sentences

Week 3: Questions and Negatives

• Day 1-3: Form questions with IR A
• Day 4-5: Practice negative form
• Day 6-7: Use both naturally

Week 4: Real Usage

• Day 1-3: Talk about your plans
• Day 4-5: Ask others about their plans
• Day 6-7: Use daily for future talk

Remember: IR A + infinitive is the easiest way to talk about the future! Master the irregular conjugations of IR (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van), always include the A, and keep the second verb as an infinitive. This structure is perfect for near future plans, intentions, and predictions. Practice asking "¿Qué vas a hacer?" (What are you going to do?) and answering with your plans. With IR A, you can express any future action naturally and confidently in Spanish!