Future with ir a
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Los niños (jugar) en el parque después de comer.
The children are going to play in the park after lunch.
The rule
It works like English "going to" (voy a llamar = I am going to call). Spanish has a separate future tense with its own endings, but in conversation, ir a is what you will hear and use most.
The pattern
Conjugate ir in the present tense, add a, then the infinitive.
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | voy a + infinitive |
| tú | vas a + infinitive |
| él/ella/usted | va a + infinitive |
| nosotros | vamos a + infinitive |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | van a + infinitive |
Use this for plans, intentions, and events you expect soon. Spanish also has a formal future tense (comeré, saldrás), but ir a + infinitive is far more common in speech.
Examples
- Voy a comer ahoraI am going to eat now
- ¿Vas a estudiar esta noche?Are you going to study tonight?
- Ella va a llamar a su madreShe is going to call her mother
- Vamos a salir a las ochoWe're going to leave at eight
- Mis amigos van a llegar mañanaMy friends are going to arrive tomorrow
- Va a llover esta tardeIt is going to rain this afternoon
Watch out
- Voy comer ahora. Voy a comer ahora.The a between ir and the infinitive is required.
- Voy a como ahora. Voy a comer ahora.The second verb must be an infinitive, not conjugated.
- Vamos a salimos. Vamos a salir.Only the first verb (ir) is conjugated. The second stays in the infinitive.
- Voy a comeré. Voy a comer.Do not combine ir a with the formal future ending.