Ir + a + infinitive
There are two different ways to express the future tense in Spanish: the informal future (ir + a + infinitive) and the simple future (el futuro simple). This lesson will focus on the informal future. The informal future can also be called the near future.
Just as you use "going" + an infinitive in English to say what you are going to do, in
Spanish you use a form of the verb ir + a + an infinitive to express the same thing.
Just as you use "going" + an infinitive in English to say what you are going to do, in
Spanish you use a form of the verb ir + a + an infinitive to express the same thing.
As you can see from this chart, the verb ir is conjugated depending on your subject pronoun.
Steps to conjugate the informal future correctly
Examples:
Voy a jugar al tenis hoy.
I'm going to play tennis today.
*Notice that the second verb is
¿ Tú vas a jugar al golf esta tarde? always in the infinitive and that
Are you going to play golf this afternoon? only the forms of ir change
depending on the subject.
Mis amigas van a ir de cámping mañana.
My friends are going camping tomorrow.
This next chart goes into further detail about the English translations of the informal future (ir + a + infinitive)
Steps to conjugate the informal future correctly
- Decide who/what is the subject .
- Conjugate ir depending on the subject.
- Add "a" after your conjugated ir verb.
- Add your main verb in the infinitive.
Examples:
Voy a jugar al tenis hoy.
I'm going to play tennis today.
*Notice that the second verb is
¿ Tú vas a jugar al golf esta tarde? always in the infinitive and that
Are you going to play golf this afternoon? only the forms of ir change
depending on the subject.
Mis amigas van a ir de cámping mañana.
My friends are going camping tomorrow.
This next chart goes into further detail about the English translations of the informal future (ir + a + infinitive)
If you need further instruction or a different method of instruction for this grammar lesson, watch this YouTube video that goes over the formation of the informal future.
I. After you feel you have grasped this construction, test your knowledge on this ir + a + infinitive worksheet. When you're done, check your answers.
II. Ir + a + infinitive Activity Answers
III. Next, watch this video, entitled "No Voy a Levantarme" and write 4 things the student says he's not going to do in the morning.
IV. After you've written the 4 things the student says he's not going to do in the morning, compare your answers with the key.
V. Watch this Marc Anthony music video, paying special attention to the chorus. Listen to the whole song and brainstorm at least 4 examples of the use of "ir + a + infinitive" (please write them down too!) The actual music video starts at 1:05 but I recommend watching the beginning of the video to listen to Marc Anthony's short biography.
VI. After you have watched the first music video, check your "ir + a + infinitive" sentences you have written down with this second video that has the lyrics. There may be some you didn't catch!