Simple Future Tense
The simple future says what will happen: add -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the whole infinitive (hablaré, I will speak). It also makes predictions and guesses.
The rule at a glance
hablarinfinitive+-éending (yo)=hablaréI will speak
Endings: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án; Same endings for -ar, -er and -ir verbs
Regular verb
hablaré
I will speak
Mañana hablaré con ella.
I'll speak to her tomorrow.
Irregular stem
tener → tendré
I will have
El año que viene tendré más tiempo.
I'll have more time next year.
Probability now
estará
he's probably
¿Dónde está Juan? Estará en casa.
Where's Juan? He's probably at home.
- 12 verbs (and compounds like mantener → mantendré) change the stem but keep the same endings: tendr-, pondr-, vendr-, saldr-, valdr-, har-, dir-, podr-, sabr-, querr-, habr-, cabr-.
- For plans, everyday speech often uses ir a + infinitive instead: Voy a hablar con él. (I'm going to speak to him.)
- Accents: every ending except -emos has one: hablaré, hablarás but hablaremos.
Forms
Regular verbs
Unlike most tenses, the simple future adds its endings to the whole infinitive (hablar, comer, vivir), and the same set of endings works for -ar, -er and -ir verbs, so there is only one set to learn.
The highlighted part is the ending.
| hablar (to speak) | comer (to eat) | vivir (to live) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaré – I will speak | comeré – I will eat | viviré – I will live |
| tú | hablarás – you will speak | comerás – you will eat | vivirás – you will live |
| él/ella/usted | hablará – he/she will speak | comerá – he/she will eat | vivirá – he/she will live |
| nosotros | hablaremos – we will speak | comeremos – we will eat | viviremos – we will live |
| vosotros | hablaréis – you all will speak | comeréis – you all will eat | viviréis – you all will live |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablarán – they will speak | comerán – they will eat | vivirán – they will live |
Irregular stems
Only 12 common verbs have an irregular stem in the future. They keep the regular endings (-é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án) and fall into three patterns:
The highlighted part is the new stem.
Regular endings:-é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án
The three you will use most:
The highlighted part is the ending.
| tener → tendr- | hacer → har- | poder → podr- | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | tendré – I will have | haré – I will do/make | podré – I will be able to |
| tú | tendrás – you will have | harás – you will do/make | podrás – you will be able to |
| él/ella/usted | tendrá – he/she will have | hará – he/she will do/make | podrá – he/she will be able to |
| nosotros | tendremos – we will have | haremos – we will do/make | podremos – we will be able to |
| vosotros | tendréis – you all will have | haréis – you all will do/make | podréis – you all will be able to |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | tendrán – they will have | harán – they will do/make | podrán – they will be able to |
Ser is regular in the future: seré, serás, será... The conditional uses exactly the same stems.
When to use it
1. Future events and plans
Mañana hablaré con ella – Tomorrow I will speak with her
El año que viene viajaremos a España – Next year we will travel to Spain
La fiesta empezará a las ocho – The party will start at eight
2. Predictions
Será un buen día – It will be a good day
Creo que lloverá esta noche – I think it will rain tonight
El equipo ganará el partido – The team will win the match
3. Probability about the present
The future can make a guess about now: estará = "he's probably", serán = "it must be".
¿Dónde está Juan? Estará en casa – Where's Juan? He's probably at home
Serán las tres – It must be three o'clock
Tendrá unos treinta años – He must be about thirty
4. Firm instructions and commands
Harás los deberes ahora – You will do your homework now
Vendrás a cenar con nosotros – You will come to dinner with us
No matarás – Thou shalt not kill
5. Simple future or ir a + infinitive?
The simple future is more formal and suits the distant future and predictions. In everyday speech, plans and the near future usually take ir a + infinitive, or even the present with a time marker.
hablaré: Algún día hablaré perfectamente – One day I will speak perfectly
voy a hablar: Ahora voy a hablar con él – I'm going to speak to him now
present: Llamo a Simón esta noche – I'm calling Simón tonight
More on the everyday alternative: the immediate future (ir a + infinitive), and the present tense for arrangements.
Common mistakes
Don't forget the accent marks
Not this (incorrect): hablare, comeras, vivira
But this (correct): hablaré, comerás, vivirá. All future endings except -emos need an accent mark (hablaremos has none).
Tener has an irregular stem
Not this (incorrect): Teneré
But this (correct): Tendré – I will have. Tener drops the vowel and adds -dr-: tendr- + é.
Hacer becomes har-
Not this (incorrect): Haceré
But this (correct): Haré – I will make. Hacer drops "ce": har- + é.
Poder drops the -e
Not this (incorrect): Poderás hacerlo
But this (correct): Podrás hacerlo – You will be able to do it. Poder, saber, querer, haber and caber drop the -e of the infinitive: podr-, sabr-, querr-...
Quick check
8 questions1. How do you say 'I will speak' in Spanish?
'Hablaré' is the simple future form: hablar + é = hablaré.
2. What's the correct future form: 'We will eat'?
'Comeremos' is the future form: comer + emos = comeremos.
3. Which is the correct irregular future: 'I will have'?
'Tendré' uses the irregular stem 'tendr-' + é.
4. Choose the correct translation: 'She will be happy'
'Será' is the future of 'ser' (to be) - ser is regular in the future: ser + á.
5. What's the future form: 'They will come tomorrow'?
'Vendrán' uses the irregular stem 'vendr-' + án for ellos/ellas.
6. Which sentence uses the future of probability correctly?
'¿Qué hora será?' means 'I wonder what time it is' - using future for conjecture.
7. What's the correct form: 'I will make' (hacer)?
'Haré' - hacer becomes 'har-' (drops 'ce') + é.
8. Choose: 'You will be able to do it' (tú, poder)
'Podrás' uses the irregular stem 'podr-' + ás for tú.
Test your knowledge of Spanish simple future tense - regular and irregular forms!
Going further
All the irregular stems, future time expressions, a story in the future
All irregular future stems
- poner → pondr- yo pondré
- salir → saldr- yo saldré
- venir → vendr- yo vendré
- decir → dir- yo diré
- querer → querr- yo querré
- saber → sabr- yo sabré
- valer → valdr- yo valdré
- caber → cabr- yo cabré
- haber → habr- yo habré
Future time expressions
mañana · tomorrow: Mañana estudiaré – Tomorrow I will study
la próxima semana · next week: La próxima semana viajaré – Next week I will travel
el año que viene · next year: El año que viene me graduaré – Next year I will graduate
en el futuro · in the future: En el futuro viviré allí – In the future I will live there
dentro de... · in... (time): Dentro de dos horas llegaré – I will arrive in two hours
algún día · someday: Algún día lo entenderé – Someday I will understand it
A story in the future
El próximo verano visitaré a mi familia – Next summer I will visit my family
Pasaremos dos semanas en la playa – We will spend two weeks at the beach
Mis hermanos vendrán también – My siblings will come too
Haremos muchas actividades juntos – We will do many activities together
Será un verano inolvidable – It will be an unforgettable summer
Después volveré al trabajo – Then I will return to work
More examples
Viajaré el año que viene – I will travel next year
Ella estará feliz – She will be happy
Probablemente lloverá – It will probably rain