The Spanish verb tense “futuro próximo” is used to describe actions or plans that will take place in the near future. Argentinians use this tense often to talk about weekend plans. For example, to say in Spanish that next Saturday I’m going to go dancing, this phrase in the near future would come to my mind: “El sábado voy a ir a bailar.”
If you’re planning to share your weekend plans with a Spanish-speaking relative, friend or colleague, you’ll want to be familiar with the “futuro próximo” or near future tense in Spanish.
In this blog post, I’ll explain in detail how the Spanish verb tense “futuro próximo” or near future is formed. By the time you finish reading this blog post, you should be able to use the futuro próximo in Spanish to describe your weekend plans. Let ‘s begin!
Understanding the Near Future Tense in Spanish
In Spanish, the “futuro próximo” is formed using the present tense of the verb “ir” (to go), followed by the infinitive of the verb that describes the action or plan. This allows you to indicate who is doing the action and what the action is, all in a single sentence. For example, “Voy a ir al cine” means “I am going to go to the cinema.”
Structure of the Spanish Verb Tense “Futuro Próximo”
The structure of the Spanish verb tense “futuro próximo” is this one: IR (conjugated) + A + INFINITIVO. See more examples below:
- “Voy a viajar a la Argentina.” (I’m going to travel to Argentina.)
- “Vas a dormir como un bebé.” (You’re going to sleep like a baby.)
- “Va a rendir un examen.” (He’s going to sit for an exam.)
- “Vamos a visitar a la abuela.” (We’re going to visit grandma.)
- “Van a ver el partido de Boca.” (They’re going to watch the soccer match.)
Mastering Spanish Conjugations for the Near Future Tense
It’s important to note that the present tense of “ir” (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van) will change based on who is doing the action. The infinitive of the verb that follows, on the other hand, remains the same.
Paying attention to the conjugation of “ir,” always taking into account the subject pronoun (yo, tú, vos, él, etc.) is essential to making sure your message is clear and accurate. See the conjugation of “ir” in the present tense below.
| IR |
| Yo voy |
| Tú/vos vas |
| Él/ella/usted va |
| Nosotros/nosotras vamos |
| Vosotros/vosotras váis |
| Ellos/ellas/ustedes van |
Exploring Spanish Verb Forms for the Near Future
The “futuro próximo” can be used with any verb in Spanish, making it a versatile tense to use for sharing your weekend plans. Some verbs, like “hacer” (to do/make) or “ver” (to see), are particularly useful for describing weekend activities. For example, “Voy a hacer una cena para mis amigos” means “I am going to make dinner for my friends,” and “Vamos a ver una película en el cine” means “We are going to see a movie at the cinema.”
A common combination of Spanish verb forms for the near future is “ir” followed by “a” and again “ir.” It is similar to the structure “going to go” in English. See examples below:
- Voy a ir a lo de Lucía. (I’m going to go to Lucia’s place.)
- Vas a ir al colegio. (You’re going to go to school.)
- Vamos a ir a bailar. (We’re going to go dancing.)
Examples of Using the Spanish Future Tense to Describe Weekend Plans
Here are a few more examples of using the “futuro próximo” to describe weekend plans in Spanish. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that when we speak of our weekend plans we usually mention the day (e.g., el sábado) and/or the time of the day (e.g., por la noche).
- Este fin de semana voy a visitar a mi familia. (This weekend, I am going to visit my family.)
- Vamos a hacer un asado en mi casa el sábado. (We are going to have an asado in my house on Saturday.)
- Van a ir al concierto el domingo por la noche. (They are going to the concert on Sunday night.)
- Voy a leer un libro nuevo en la playa el domingo. (I am going to read a new book on the beach on Sunday.)
- Vamos a ver la película “Argentina 1985” el sábado por la tarde. (We are going to watch the movie “Argentina 1985” on Saturday afternoon.)
Conclusion
Use the Spanish verb tense “futuro próximo” to describe your weekend plans like a native speaker. Remember to pay attention to the conjugation of “ir” and the infinitive of the verb that follows to ensure your message is accurate. With a little practice, you’ll be able to describe your weekend plans in Spanish with ease.
Want to learn more about this topic?
Check out this resource to learn how to say all the days of the week, months, and important dates in Spanish.
Subscribe to Improve your Spanish
Did you enjoy this blog post? Subscribe to the newsletter to be the first one to hear when a new post is available! The best part? With your subscription you will get a free guide of useful Spanish phrases you need to know before you visit Argentina.
Your support is truly appreciated! If you are enjoying the content on this website, buy me a coffee and help me create incredible content for you to learn Spanish.
Don’t forget to follow me on social media:
Instagram – Pinterest – Linkedin
Sponsored by Day Translations
Learn more about la profe Melany here.