DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Future Tense (Ir + a + Infinitive)

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Key Takeaways

• Master the “ir + a + infinitive” structure for future plans
• Learn to conjugate “ir” in the present tense
• Understand when to use this future form vs. other future expressions
• Practice with DELE-focused examples for speaking and writing tasks

Welcome to your complete guide to the Spanish Future Tense using “ir + a + infinitive.” This is the most common and essential way to talk about the future in Spanish, especially at the DELE A2 level. Mastering this structure will allow you to discuss plans, intentions, and predictions with confidence.

What is the “Ir + a + Infinitive” Future?
This structure is equivalent to “going to + verb” in English and is used for:

• Near future plans and intentions
• Scheduled events
• Predictions based on current evidence

Conjugation of IR (to go)
First, you must master the present tense of “ir”:

Subject	Conjugation	English
yo	voy	I go
tú	vas	you go
él/ella/usted	va	he/she/you formal goes
nosotros	vamos	we go
vosotros	vais	you all go (Spain)
ellos/ustedes	van	they/you all go

Forming the Future Tense
Structure: [Conjugated form of IR] + a + [infinitive verb]

Examples:

• “Voy a estudiar español.” (I’m going to study Spanish.)
• “Vas a viajar a México.” (You’re going to travel to Mexico.)
• “Va a llover.” (It’s going to rain.)
• “Vamos a comer en un restaurante.” (We’re going to eat in a restaurant.)

When to Use This Future Form

1. Definite Plans and Arrangements:

• “Voy a visitar a mis abuelos este fin de semana.” (I’m going to visit my grandparents this weekend.)
• “Vamos a celebrar una fiesta el sábado.” (We’re going to celebrate a party on Saturday.)

2. Intentions and Decisions:

• “Voy a aprender a bailar flamenco.” (I’m going to learn to dance flamenco.)
• “Va a buscar un nuevo trabajo.” (He’s going to look for a new job.)

3. Predictions with Evidence:

• “Mira esas nubes – va a llover.” (Look at those clouds – it’s going to rain.)
• “Van a ganar el partido.” (They’re going to win the game.)

DELE A2 Practical Scenarios

Talking About Weekend Plans:

• “El sábado voy a ir al cine con amigos.” (On Saturday I’m going to go to the movies with friends.)
• “Vamos a hacer una barbacoa en el jardín.” (We’re going to have a barbecue in the garden.)

Discussing Vacation Plans:

• “Este verano voy a viajar a la playa.” (This summer I’m going to travel to the beach.)
• “Vamos a visitar varios museos.” (We’re going to visit several museums.)

Work and Study Plans:

• “El año que viene voy a estudiar en la universidad.” (Next year I’m going to study at the university.)
• “Va a empezar un nuevo curso en septiembre.” (He’s going to start a new course in September.)

Common Time Expressions

• mañana (tomorrow)
• esta tarde/noche (this afternoon/tonight)
• este fin de semana (this weekend)
• la próxima semana (next week)
• el próximo mes/año (next month/year)
• en el futuro (in the future)

Negative Future Sentences

• “No voy a trabajar el domingo.” (I’m not going to work on Sunday.)
• “No vamos a salir esta noche.” (We’re not going to go out tonight.)

Questions About Future Plans

• “¿Vas a venir a la fiesta?” (Are you going to come to the party?)
• “¿Qué vais a hacer este verano?” (What are you going to do this summer?)
• “¿Cuándo va a terminar el curso?” (When is the course going to end?)

DELE A2 Exam Tips

1. Speaking Section: Use this structure when discussing your plans and intentions
2. Writing Section: Show you can use the future tense in emails and descriptions
3. Listening Section: Recognize future plans in conversations
4. Key Topics: Weekend plans, vacations, study/work intentions, predictions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t forget to conjugate “ir” (don’t say “ir a…”)
• Remember the “a” after the conjugated form of “ir”
• Don’t confuse with the present progressive (estoy yendo)
• Use the infinitive form after “a” (not a conjugated verb)

Pronunciation Tip
The words “voy a” often sound like “boya” in rapid speech. Listen for this in listening exercises!

Comparison with Other Future Forms
At DELE A2 level, focus on “ir + a + infinitive.” The simple future tense (estudiaré, comerás) is introduced but less common at this level.

Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to master the future tense?

Take our DELE A2 Future Tense Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.

What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?

• Ready for other tenses? Review DELE A2 Present Tense
• Need more verb practice? Study DELE A2 Preterite Tense
• Want related topics? Learn DELE A2 Verbs with Prepositions
• Practice all A2 grammar? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub

Looking for a deeper dive?
This guide covers the essentials for the DELE A2 exam. If you want to explore the simple future tense, future perfect, and more nuanced future expressions, check out our complete guide: Spanish Future Tenses: The Complete Guide

Master the future tense and you’ll be able to talk about your plans and dreams in Spanish!