Weekend Plans (Ir a + Infinitive)
Planes del Fin de Semana
After this lesson, you'll be able to:
- ✓Use ir a + infinitive to talk about future plans
- ✓Discuss weekend activities and leisure
- ✓Make suggestions and respond to invitations
- ✓Negate plans with no voy a...
Grammar Focus
Essential grammar for this lesson with examples.
Recap: ir Conjugation
Before we build on it, let's quickly review the verb ir (to go) from Week 5. You need to know all six forms confidently because this week we'll use ir as a building block for talking about the future.
ir (to go) - Present Tense
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| (1st) | (yo) voy | (nosotros) vamos |
| (2nd) | (tú) vas | (vosotros) vais |
| (3rd) | (él/ella) va | (ellos/ellas) van |
Examples:
Ir a + Infinitive (Near Future)
This is THE key structure for this week. To say what you're going to do, use: ir (conjugated) + a + infinitive verb. This is how Spanish speakers most commonly talk about future plans at the A1 level. Think of it like English "going to" - I'm going to eat, she's going to study.
ir a + comer (to eat) - Near Future
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| (1st) | (yo) voy a comer | (nosotros) vamos a comer |
| (2nd) | (tú) vas a comer | (vosotros) vais a comer |
| (3rd) | (él/ella) va a comer | (ellos/ellas) van a comer |
Examples:
Near Future vs Present Contrast
It's important to see the difference between what you do habitually (present tense) and what you're going to do (near future). The present describes routines; ir a + infinitive describes plans.
Examples:
Time Expressions with Plans
Future plans almost always include a time expression that tells when. These words and phrases appear at the beginning or end of the sentence and help the listener know you're talking about the future.
Examples:
Making Suggestions
When making plans with friends, you need ways to suggest activities. Here are four common patterns, all followed by an infinitive verb.
Examples:
Accepting & Declining Invitations
Once someone makes a suggestion, you need to respond! Here are the most useful phrases for saying yes or no to plans.
Examples:
Negating Plans
To say what you're NOT going to do, simply put "no" before the conjugated form of ir. The structure is: no + ir (conjugated) + a + infinitive.
Examples:
Conversation Example
It's Friday afternoon. Ana and Pablo plan their weekend.
🌍 Weekend Culture in the Spanish-Speaking World
Weekends look different across the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, Saturday night often revolves around tapas - small plates shared with friends while bar-hopping, sometimes not starting until 10 PM! Sundays are typically for family, with a long lunch that can last hours. In Mexico, "el domingo familiar" is sacred - families gather for comida (the main meal, around 2-3 PM), often at grandma's house. Markets are popular on Saturday mornings. In Colombia, weekends often feature rumba (going out dancing), especially salsa in Cali or cumbia in Barranquilla. In Argentina, the Sunday asado (barbecue) is almost a ritual - families and friends gather to grill meat and share maté. Wherever you go, weekends are deeply social - plans almost always involve family or friends.