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When to use the future tense in Spanish
In the preceding future tense exercises, we've been translating the future tense as I'll come, you'll wait etc. And in general, the Spanish future tense does carry roughly the same meaning as English will... or 'll.... However, on this page, we'll delve in in a little more detail and see some more complicated cases. In particular:
- In Spanish, the future tense isn't always the most appropriate translation for English will/'ll;
- the Spanish future tense doesn't always denote a simple future action or event.
We'll divide this section into three categories: (a) cases where the Spanish future tense does correspond to English will/'ll; (b) cases where the Spanish future tense is used, but where it doesn't necessarily correspond to English will/'ll; (c) cases where English uses will/'ll but where Spanish doesn't necessarily use the future tense (or where it's not possible).
Cases where Spanish future tense corresponds to will/'ll
The future tense is generally used in the following cases. Note that although the two languages' usage conincide, these uses aren't necessarily making a statement about the future (remember: "future tense" is just a label, and actually it's often a misleading one at that):
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to make a supposition about the present:
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to make a future prediction based on a condition:
si viene tu hermano, tendremos que comprar una nueva cama
if your brother comes, we'll need to buy a new bed
Suggest a change / Cambios sugeridos -
to state a formal arrangement or schedule (although the present tense is often possible, as in English):
el nuevo modelo llegará a las tiendas el 10 de agosto
the new model will be in shops from the 10th of August Suggest a change / Cambios sugeridos -
to issue a warning:
It's also possible to use ir a... (¡te vas a quemar los dedos!).
Cases where Spanish future tense doesn't (necessarily) correspond to will/'ll
In Spanish, the future tense has a number of additional functions that aren't shared by will/'ll. We'll look at some typical English translations of these cases:
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to make a tentative statement about the future: here, English often can use will/'ll, but accompanied by a phrase such as doubtless, probably etc:
lloverá en la tarde
it'll no doubt (=probably) rain in the afternoon Suggest a change / Cambios sugeridos -
to make a tentative request or enquiry: in these cases, the future tense has roughly the function of a request with would..., or ...at all/by any change, or possibly I wonder...?:
¿tendrá cambio de 500?
would you have change for a 500 (by any chance)?
¿qué hora será?
What time is it, I wonder? Suggest a change / Cambios sugeridos
Other translations for will/'ll
In some other cases, the future tense isn't the only possible translation of will/'ll (or indeed, isn't a possible translation at all):
-
in simple statements about the imminent future such as "I'll see you tomorrow", "we'll ring each other later", Spanish commonly uses the simple present tense:
¡nos vemos mañana!
we'll see each other tomorrow!, see you tomorrow!
¡te hablo en la noche!
I'll ring you tonight! Suggest a change / Cambios sugeridos -
to make a request, Spanish typically uses the simple present:
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