The rule, in plain English
For a plan, use a present form of ir + a + the dictionary form of the action: Voy a estudiar; Vamos a comer. For a prediction, promise, or formal statement, you can use the future simple by adding an ending to the whole verb: hablaré, comerás, vivirá. Both forms can talk about tomorrow; the difference is the meaning, not the distance in time.
Why it's hard for English speakers
The plan pattern has three parts, so keep all three: voy + a + estudiar. For the future simple, keep the full verb before adding the ending: hablar + é = hablaré. A few common verbs change their stem, such as tener → tendré; the table lists them.
Worked examples
Start with these worked examples, then reveal more when you are ready.
- Voy a estudiar después de cenar.I am going to study after dinner.Plans with ir a: Voy a + infinitive expresses the speaker's plan.
- ¿Vas a llamar a tu abuela?Are you going to call your grandmother?Plans with ir a: Only ir changes for the subject; llamar stays in the infinitive.
- Ella va a preparar la cena.She is going to make dinner.Plans with ir a: Va agrees with ella in the plan pattern ir a + infinitive.
- Vamos a visitar Toledo este sábado.We are going to visit Toledo this Saturday.Plans with ir a: Vamos a is common for a decided future arrangement.
- ¿Vais a quedaros en casa?Are you all going to stay at home?Plans with ir a: The reflexive pronoun can attach to the infinitive: quedaros.
- Mira esas nubes: va a llover.Look at those clouds: it is going to rain.Plans with ir a: Ir a can predict something based on present evidence.
- Mañana hablaré con el profesor.Tomorrow I will speak to the teacher.Regular future forms: Add the yo ending -é to the complete infinitive hablar.
- Comerás mejor durante el viaje.You will eat better during the trip.Regular future forms: All verb groups use the same future endings; comerás keeps the infinitive.
- Lucía vivirá cerca de la universidad.Lucía will live near the university.Regular future forms: Vivirá is vivir plus the third-person ending -á.
- Aprenderemos mucho en este curso.We will learn a lot on this course.Regular future forms: The nosotros future ending is -emos, added to aprender.
- Recibiréis un mensaje mañana.You all will receive a message tomorrow.Regular future forms: The vosotros future ending is -éis and carries an accent.
- Mis padres viajarán en septiembre.My parents will travel in September.Regular future forms: The ellos future ending is -án, added to the full infinitive.
Present of ir for ir a + infinitive
| Subject | ir | Complete pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy | voy a hablar |
| Tú | vas | vas a hablar |
| Él/Ella | va | va a hablar |
| Usted | va | va a hablar |
| Nosotros/as | vamos | vamos a hablar |
| Vosotros/as | vais | vais a hablar |
| Ellos/Ellas | van | van a hablar |
| Ustedes | van | van a hablar |
Regular future simple: the same endings for -ar, -er and -ir
| Subject | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablaré | comeré | viviré |
| Tú | hablarás | comerás | vivirás |
| Él/Ella | hablará | comerá | vivirá |
| Usted | hablará | comerá | vivirá |
| Nosotros/as | hablaremos | comeremos | viviremos |
| Vosotros/as | hablaréis | comeréis | viviréis |
| Ellos/Ellas | hablarán | comerán | vivirán |
| Ustedes | hablarán | comerán | vivirán |
Common irregular future stems
| Infinitive | Future stem | Yo example |
|---|---|---|
| tener | tendr- | tendré |
| venir | vendr- | vendré |
| salir | saldr- | saldré |
| poner | pondr- | pondré |
| poder | podr- | podré |
| saber | sabr- | sabré |
| querer | querr- | querré |
| decir | dir- | diré |
| hacer | har- | haré |
| haber | habr- | habrá |
Choosing a future form
| Meaning | Typical choice | Example |
|---|---|---|
| decided plan / intention | ir a + infinitive | Voy a estudiar esta noche. |
| prediction from present evidence | ir a + infinitive | Mira las nubes: va a llover. |
| prediction or opinion | future simple | Creo que ganará. |
| promise / reassurance | future simple | Te ayudaré. |
| formal future statement | future simple | La tienda abrirá a las nueve. |
| guess about the present | future simple | Serán las diez. |
The future(s): ir a + infinitive vs future simple
Spanish
Voy a estudiar esta noche.Ir a + infinitive · a planCommon mistakes
- Voy estudiar mañana.Voy a estudiar mañana.The plan pattern always needs a between ir and the infinitive.
- Voy a estudio mañana.Voy a estudiar mañana.After ir a, the action verb stays in the infinitive.
- Yo hablaré, tú hablarés.Yo hablaré, tú hablarás.The tú future ending is -ás; only the yo form ends in -é.
- Haceré la compra.Haré la compra.Hacer uses the irregular future stem har-.
Practice
I'm going to eat = Voy ___ comer.
Tomorrow I will speak = Mañana ___ (hablar, yo).
I will have =
What are you going to do? = ¿Qué ___ a hacer?
We are going to visit Granada = ___ a visitar Granada.
You will eat later (tú) = ___ más tarde.
Which form means ‘we will leave’?
She will do it tomorrow = Lo ___ mañana. (hacer)