The simple future (hablaré) and irregular stems

You already talk about plans with ir a + infinitive (voy a viajar, Ir and ir a + infinitive (plans)). Spanish also has a one-word future tense, the equivalent of English will + verb: hablaré = I will speak. It is used for predictions, promises and statements about the future, and it is very common in writing, the news and weather forecasts.

How to form it: the whole infinitive + one set of endings

Most tenses start by removing -ar, -er, -ir. The future does not: you keep the whole infinitive and add the endings. The endings are the same for all three groups.

Every form except nosotros has a written accent on the ending. Stem-changing verbs do not change in the future: quiero but querré, duermo but dormiré.

• Mañana lloverá en el norte.Tomorrow it will rain in the north.
• El año que viene viviremos en Valencia.Next year we will live in Valencia.
• Te llamaré esta noche.I'll call you tonight.
• Mis padres volverán el domingo.My parents will come back on Sunday.

Twelve irregular stems

A small group of very common verbs uses a shortened stem (the part before the ending) instead of the full infinitive. The endings stay exactly the same.

There are three patterns: decir and hacer shrink; poder, querer, saber, haber, caber lose the e; poner, salir, tener, venir, valer swap the vowel for a d. Verbs built on them follow suit: deshacer → desharé, componer → compondré, mantener → mantendré.

• Tendrás que esperar un poco.You'll have to wait a little.
• No sabremos los resultados hasta el lunes.We won't know the results until Monday.
• ¿Vendréis a la boda?Will you come to the wedding?
• Haré todo lo posible.I'll do everything I can.
• Habrá mucha gente en el concierto.There will be a lot of people at the concert.
• Os lo diré mañana.I'll tell you tomorrow.

Habrá (there will be) is the future of hay, and like hay it never goes plural: habrá muchos problemas, not habrán muchos problemas.

Future or ir a?

Both are correct and often interchangeable. In everyday speech, ir a is more frequent for plans and intentions (voy a cenar con Ana); the simple future sounds a little more distant, formal or certain, and it is the normal choice for predictions, promises and forecasts. The present is also used for fixed or near arrangements: Mañana trabajo (I'm working tomorrow).

Where English "will" is not the future

• A request: Will you help me? = ¿Me ayudas? (present), not normally ¿Me ayudarás?
• "Won't" meaning refusal: The door won't open = La puerta no se abre; He won't eat = No quiere comer.
• A decision made on the spot: I'll get it! = ¡Ya voy! or Voy yo.

Latin America

The forms are the same everywhere, with ustedes (hablarán) for the plural "you". In everyday Latin American speech the simple future is used even less than in Spain for plans: ir a dominates, and the simple future often carries the "guess" meaning from The future for guesses: Serán las diez.

Common mistakes

• Hablarémos: nosotros is the only future form with no written accent: hablaremos.
• Haceré, poneré, teneré: these verbs have irregular stems: haré, pondré, tendré.
• Quieraré, duermiré: the future never has a stem change. Use the infinitive: querré, dormiré.
• Habrán muchas personas: habrá (there will be) stays singular.
• ¿Me abrirás la puerta? for a quick request: Spanish uses the present, ¿Me abres la puerta?