The future tense indicates that an action will take place some time in

the future.

IN ENGLISH

The future tense is formed with the auxiliary will or shall + the dic-

tionary form of the main verb. Note that shall is used in very formal

English (and British English); will occurs in everyday language.

Paul and Mary will do their homework tomorrow.

I will leave tonight.

In conversation shall and will are often shortened to ‘11: They’ll do it

tomorrow; I’ll leave tonight. Will not is often shortened to won’t: They

won’t do it tomorrow; I won’t leave tonight.

IN SPANISH

You do not need an auxiliary verb to show that an action will take

place. Future time is indicated by a simple tense.

Regular verbs use the infinitive as a stem for the future tense.

Infinitive Stem

visitar visitar- to visit

comer comer- to eat

vivir vivir- to live

Irregular verbs have irregular future stems which must be memorized.

Infinitive Stem

venir vendr- to come

decir dir- to say, tell

saber sabr- to know

Your textbook will show you how to conjugate regular and irregular

verbs in the future tense.

Substitutes for the Future Tense

In English and in Spanish the fact that an action will occur some time

in the future can also be expressed without using the future tense itself

but rather a structure that implies the future.

87

IN ENGLISH

You can use the verb to go in the present progressive + the dictionary

form of the main verb: Jam going to travel, she is going to dance.

similar meaning

I am going to travel. I will travel.

we we

present progressive future tense

to go + infinitive

IN SPANISH

The same construction exists in Spanish. You can use the verb ir (to

go) in the present tense + a + the infinitive.

similar meaning

Voy a via ar. Viajaré.

present tense future tense

ir + a + infinitive

I am going to traveL I will travel.

Note that the a has no English equivalent; it must appear in the

Spanish sentence, however

In conversational Spanish ir a + infinitive often replaces the future

tense.

Sometimes the present tense is used to express a future idea especially

when discussing a future event that is pre-arranged and certain to

happen.

Mañana tienen un examen.

present tense

Tomorrow you will have an exam.

we

future tense

Future of Probability

In addition to expressing an action which will take place in the future,

in Spanish the future tense can be used to express a probable fact,

what the speaker feels is probably true. This is called the future of

probability.

IN ENGLISH

The idea of probability is expressed with words such as must, probably,

wonder

My keys must be around here.

My keys are probably around here.

I wonder if my keys are around here.

IN SPANISH

It is not necessary to use the words must, probably, or wonder to

express probable facts; the main verb is simply put into the future

tense.

I wonder what time it is.

present tense main verb -4 present tense

tQué hora será?

mgin verb —> future tense

It’s probably 4 :00.

main verb is —> present tense

Serin las cuatro.

main verb -4 future tense

I can ‘tfind my book. Juan must have it.

main verb —> present tense

No puedo encontrar mi libro. Juan lo tendrá.

main verb —+ future tense