DELE A1 Guide: Future Tense with Ir a – Expressing Future Plans in Spanish
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Want to practice first? Try a General Future Tense Quiz! or take the Ir a + Infinitive Quiz
Key Takeaways
- Learn to express future plans with “ir a + infinitive”
- Master Ir conjugations in present tense
- Understand how to talk about future activities
- Learn common future time expressions
- Essential for DELE A1 conversations about plans
Welcome to your complete guide to expressing future plans in Spanish, essential for talking about what you’re going to do on the DELE A1 exam. The “ir a + infinitive” structure is the most common way to talk about the future in everyday Spanish.
What is the Future with Ir a?
The structure “ir a + infinitive” means “to be going to do something.” It’s used to express future plans, intentions, and predictions. This is the primary future form you need for the DELE A1 exam.
Ir Conjugation Review
Present Tense of Ir
| Subject | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy | Voy al cine |
| Tú | vas | Vas a la escuela |
| Él/Ella | va | Va al trabajo |
| Nosotros | vamos | Vamos a España |
| Ellos | van | Van al parque |
DELE A1 Tip: Ir is completely irregular in the present tense. Memorize these forms as they don’t follow any regular pattern.
Ir a + Infinitive Structure
Basic Future Structure
| Subject + Ir Conjugation + a + Infinitive | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yo voy a estudiar | I am going to study |
| Tú vas a trabajar | You are going to work |
| Él va a comer | He is going to eat |
| Nosotros vamos a viajar | We are going to travel |
Common Future Activities
Daily and Weekly Plans
- Voy a estudiar español (I’m going to study Spanish)
- Vas a trabajar mañana (You’re going to work tomorrow)
- Va a visitar a su familia (He’s going to visit his family)
- Vamos a ir al cine (We’re going to go to the movies)
Future Time Expressions
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mañana | tomorrow | Voy a estudiar mañana |
| esta tarde | this afternoon | Vas a trabajar esta tarde |
| esta noche | tonight | Va a salir esta noche |
| el próximo… | next… | Vamos a viajar el próximo mes |
| el fin de semana | on the weekend | Van a descansar el fin de semana |
Question Forms
Asking About Future Plans
- ¿Qué vas a hacer? (What are you going to do?)
- ¿Vas a estudiar? (Are you going to study?)
- ¿Cuándo vamos a ir? (When are we going to go?)
- ¿Dónde va a estar? (Where is it going to be?)
Negative Future Sentences
Expressing What You’re Not Going to Do
- No voy a estudiar (I’m not going to study)
- No vas a trabajar (You’re not going to work)
- No va a llover (It’s not going to rain)
- No vamos a ir (We’re not going to go)
DELE A1 Exam Practice
Speaking Section Examples
- Talk about weekend plans: “El sábado voy a visitar a mis abuelos”
- Discuss daily plans: “Esta tarde voy a estudiar español”
- Make arrangements: “Vamos a encontrarnos en el café”
- Express intentions: “Voy a aprender más español”
Writing Section Examples
- Write about your plans for next week
- Describe what you’re going to do this weekend
- Create a dialogue about future arrangements
- Write about your family’s plans
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting “a”: ❌ “Voy estudiar” ✅ “Voy a estudiar”
- Wrong Ir conjugation: ❌ “Yo ir a estudiar” ✅ “Yo voy a estudiar”
- Using future tense instead: ❌ “Estudiaré” ✅ “Voy a estudiar“
Practice with Our Free Spanish Tools
Master the future tense with our interactive tools:
Click here to open our Spanish Conjugation Tool!
Practice creating future sentences with different verbs and time expressions.
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to check your understanding of the future with Ir a?
Take the Ir a + Infinitive Quiz for DELE A1
Take our DELE A1 Future Tense Quiz here to confirm you’re ready for this part of the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A1 Journey?
- Ready for more verb structures? Study Tener que for Obligations
- Need time practice? Review Time Expressions Guide
- Practice all A1 grammar? Take a Full A1 Grammar Test
Good luck with your DELE A1 preparation!
