Let’s talk a bit about the future in Spanish. There are two basic forms: the first one is a specific verb conjugation called the simple future (futuro simple). For example, the verb estar (estaré, estarás, estará, estaremos, estaréis, estarán) in the simple future tense is equivalent in English to the form “will” (I will be, you will be, etc.).
The second type of future is made up of the phrase ir a (where the verb ir is conjugated) and the main verb in infinitive: voy a estar, vas a ir, etc. This form is equivalent to the English “to be going to” (I’m going to be, you’re going to go, etc.
The future can also be used as a command. When we were kids our mothers would say: “You will wash your hands before eating!” with a strong emphasis on the “will”. In this sentence will is being used not only to express the future, but also as a clear order. The same structure occurs in Spanish: ¡Te lavarás las manos antes de comer!
In addition, the conjugated future form in Spanish can also express probability or likelihood. Take a look at these examples:
- María todavía no ha llegado. Estará en el trabajo. (María hasn’t arrived yet. She must be at work.)
- ¿Qué hora es? Serán las dos. (What time is it? It must be two o’clock.)
- Pedro ha trabajado mucho. Estará cansado. (Pedro has worked a lot. He must be tired.)
- Estoy confundido. ¿Me amará María? (I’m confused. I wonder if María loves me.)
There is also a quaint idiomatic expression that uses ser in the future tense to emphatically express a person’s negative attributes.
- ¡Serás maleducado! (You’re so rude!)
- ¡Será cabrón! (He’s such a jerk!)
See you next time!
