3Module 6

The Future

O Futuro

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Key Concept

Express future plans, predictions, and polite requests using four key structures: IR + infinitive, Simple Future, Haver de + infinitive, and the Conditional.

The periphrastic future (IR + Infinitive) dominates spoken EP. The Simple Future is more formal and common in writing. Haver de expresses strong personal intention. The Conditional expresses polite requests and hypothetical situations.

Key Phrase — Try saying it!

Amanhã vou ao médico.

1IR + Infinitive (Spoken Future)

The most common way to express future in spoken European Portuguese.

Vou viajar a Portugal no verão.

I'm going to travel to Portugal in the summer.

Ela vai estudar medicina.

She's going to study medicine.

Vamos jantar fora esta noite.

We're going to eat out tonight.

Eles vão comprar uma casa nova.

They're going to buy a new house.

Vou aprender português.

I'm going to learn Portuguese.

Tu vais ao cinema amanhã?

Are you going to the cinema tomorrow?

Nós vamos visitar os avós.

We're going to visit the grandparents.

Ela vai começar um novo emprego.

She's going to start a new job.

2Futuro Simples (Simple Future)

Endings: -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -ão (added to full infinitive)

falar

PronounFormMeaning
EufalareiI will speak
Tufalarásyou will speak
Ele/Elafalaráhe/she will speak
Nósfalaremoswe will speak
Eles/Elasfalarãothey will speak

3Haver de + Infinitive (Strong Intention)

Hei de aprender português perfeitamente.

I WILL learn Portuguese perfectly. (strong intention)

Havemos de visitar Lisboa.

We WILL visit Lisbon. (definite intention)

Hei de conseguir!

I will manage it!

4Condicional (Conditional)

Endings: -ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos, -iam (added to full infinitive)

gostar

PronounFormMeaning
EugostariaI would like
Tugostariasyou would like
Ele/Elagostariahe/she would like
Nósgostaríamoswe would like
Eles/Elasgostariamthey would like

Examples

Tomorrow I'm going to the doctor.
reservar
I would like to reserve a room.
Poderia ajudar-me?
Could you help me?
tivesse compraria
If I had money, I would buy a house.
I will speak with him tomorrow.
próximo viajaremos Itália.
Next summer, we will travel to Italy.
Hei passar
I will pass the exam.
disse viria
She said she would come tomorrow.
Queria
I'd like a coffee, please.
I'm going to start studying tomorrow.
próxima teremos férias.
Next week, we will have holidays.
estudares, passas
If you study, you will pass the exam.
We would like to have dinner at eight.
Irei
I will go to Portugal in the summer.
farão
They will make the trip by train.
Direi verdade.
I will tell the truth.
Trarei presente
I will bring the gift tomorrow.
ginásio.
If I have time, I'll go to the gym.
viajar
I'm going to travel to Portugal in the summer.
She's going to study medicine.
fora
We're going to eat out tonight.
Hei perfeitamente.
I WILL learn Portuguese perfectly.
Havemos visitar
We WILL visit Lisbon.
reservar
I would like to reserve a table for two.
Poderia devagar?
Could you speak more slowly?
Compraria pudesse.
I would buy this house if I could.
Tomorrow I'm going to work earlier.
chegará
The train will arrive at three.
partiremos
We will leave in the morning.
chover, fico
If it rains, I'll stay at home.
O Futuro — Summary of Future ExpressionsIR + InfinitiveMost common (spoken)Vou viajarI'm going to traveleu voutu vaisele/ela vai+ infinitiveSimple FutureFormal / writtenfalareifalarásfalaráfalaremosfalarãoConditionalPolite / hypotheticalgostariagostariasgostariagostaríamosgostariamHaver de + infinitiveHei de aprender= I WILL learn(strong intention)Expresses determination or a firm promise about the future.KEYSpoken → IR + inf|Written/formal → Simple future|Polite/hypothetical → Conditional
Practice Time