To form the future indicative, the infinitive is used as the stem. The endings for all verbs are shown in the table below:
yo
é
tú
ás
Ud.
á
nosotros (as)
emos
vosotros (as)
éis
Uds./ellos/ellas
án
Let's consider the future tense of the verb llamar (to call). The future tense is formed using the formula: infinitive form of verb + future tense ending = future
The infinitive form of the verb is llamar
We add on one of the future tense endings: é, ás, á, emos, éis, án llamar + (ending) --> llamaré, llamarás, llamará, llamaremos, llamaréis, llamarán
Some example sentences with the verb llamar:
Llamaré a la policía si te veo otra vez aquí.
I will call the police if I see you here again.
Llamaré al cuerpo de reserva.
I will call for a backup unit.
Bueno, se lo llamaré.
OK, I’ll call him for you.
Some example sentences using other verbs:
¿Cuándo estará listo?
When will it be ready?
¿Cuándo estarán terminados los informes financieros?
When will the financial reports be done?
Usted necesitará este destornillador.
You will need this screwdriver.
Espere aquí. Alistaré el carro.
Wait here, I’ll get the car ready.
Bueno, regresaré temprano a casa.
OK, I will come home early.
Los Martínez nos prestarán su casa.
The Martinez family will loan us their house.
Uses of Future Tense
Discuss future events
El año próximo iremos a Nueva Zelanda.
Next year we will go to New Zealand.
La presidenta vendrá a verme mañana.
The president will come see me tomorrow.
When “will” is used in questions to express the idea “to be willing to” the future is not used in Spanish. Instead, you should use the present of querer:
Will you be quiet? ¿Quieres callarte?
Will you stand still? ¿Quieres estarte quieto?
Conjecture or probability about the present (future of probability).
This usage is quite different from English, which uses expressions like “probably”, “must”, “I/you think” instead.
¿Dónde andará tu padre?
I wonder where your father is (now).
¿Qué pensará de mí?
I wonder what he thinks of me (now).
¿Qué hora será? Serán las nueve.
I wonder what time it is (now). It must be 9.
¿Cuándo viene Juan? No sé. Vendrá tarde.
When is Juan coming? I don’t know he’s probably coming late.
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