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Lesson 26

Talking About Future Plans: "Ir a + Infinitive"

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¡Hola! Welcome back to your Spanish lessons.

In our last session, we mastered how to tell stories about past travel and where you've lived, focusing on the systematic difference between the preterite and imperfect tenses. You learned to use the preterite for the sequence of actions and the imperfect for the background scenery.

Today, we're shifting our focus from the past to the future. This is a crucial skill for small talk, allowing you to answer questions like “¿Qué planes tienes para el fin de semana?” (What are your plans for the weekend?) or “¿Qué vas a hacer después de la boda?” (What are you going to do after the wedding?).

Our learning goal is to use the 'ir a + infinitive' structure to talk about near-future plans. You'll find this structure particularly straightforward, as it follows a very clear and predictable formula—a systematic approach that should feel familiar.

1. The "Going To" Formula: A Simple System for the Future

In English, to talk about the near future, we often say "I am going to do something." Spanish uses an almost identical structure that is one of the most common ways to express future plans.

The structure is a simple, three-part formula:

Conjugated ir + a + Infinitive Verb

This is the grammatical equivalent of "to be going to + verb." Let's break it down:

  1. Conjugated ir: The verb ir means "to go." You conjugate it to match the person who is doing the action (e.g., yo voy - I go, tú vas - you go).
  2. a: This small but essential word acts as a connector, similar to "to" in English. It always comes after the conjugated ir.
  3. Infinitive Verb: This is the main action you are going to do (e.g., viajar - to travel, comer - to eat, dormir - to sleep). This verb is not conjugated; it stays in its original "-ar," "-er," or "-ir" form.

This diagram provides a clear visual breakdown of the formula.

Forming the Near Future in Spanish
This image illustrates the formula for expressing near-future plans. It shows how to combine the conjugated verb 'ir' with the preposition 'a' and an infinitive verb to build a sentence.

To see this formula explained, please watch the first few minutes of the following video. The instructor compares it to a math formula, which is a great way to think about it.

Using ''Ir + a + Infinitive'' to Talk About the Near Future - Learn Spanish with Teacher Catalina

In 'Using ''Ir + a + Infinitive'' to Talk About the Near Future', Teacher Catalina introduces this structure as a clear formula and breaks down each component.

Please watch from 01:05 to 03:47. Pay attention to: The introduction of the ir + a + infinitive formula. The explanation of each part: the conjugated verb ir, the preposition a, and the unconjugated infinitive. The first example, Voy a comer (I am going to eat).

2. The Key Component: Conjugating ir

As you saw in the video, the only part of the formula that changes is the verb ir. Since ir is an irregular verb, its present tense conjugations don't follow the standard patterns and must be memorized. You've encountered this verb before, but let's do a quick, focused review.

Spanish Future Tense Conjugation (with Examples)

The article 'Spanish Future Tense Conjugation' from Busuu provides a clear and concise table of the present tense conjugations for 'ir'. This is the part of the formula you need to commit to memory.

Please read the section titled Ir + a + infinitive: Making future plans. Focus on the conjugation table for 'ir' in the present tense.

Here is that conjugation table for easy reference:

Pronoun ir Conjugation Meaning
yo voy I go / am going
tú vas you (informal) go / are going
él/ella/usted va he/she/you (formal) goes / is going
nosotros/nosotras vamos we go / are going
vosotros/vosotras vais you all (informal, Spain) go / are going
ellos/ellas/ustedes van they/you all go / are going

As noted in the resource, since the wedding is in Colombia, you'll primarily hear and use ustedes and van for "you all" instead of vosotros and vais.

3. Assembling the Structure: Creating Sentences

Now, let's combine these components to form sentences. The process is a direct application of the formula.

Let's say you want to talk about your plans for after the wedding: "I am going to travel to Cartagena."

  1. Start with the subject's ir form: For "I," this is voy.
  2. Add the connector: a.
  3. Add the main verb (infinitive): viajar.
  4. Add the rest of the sentence: a Cartagena.

Putting it together: Voy a viajar a Cartagena.

Let's try another one: "We are going to dance at the party."

  1. ir form for "We": vamos.
  2. Connector: a.
  3. Infinitive: bailar (to dance).
  4. Rest of sentence: en la fiesta.

Result: Vamos a bailar en la fiesta.

The following image provides more excellent examples with different subjects and verbs.

The Future with IR A + Infinitive
This image shows six illustrated examples of the 'ir a + infinitive' structure, such as 'Yo voy a aprender español' (I am going to learn Spanish) and 'Nosotros vamos a jugar' (We are going to play).
Test your understanding!

Using the formula, translate the following simple ideas into Spanish sentences.

  1. You (informal) are going to eat. (to eat = comer)
  2. She is going to work. (to work = trabajar)
  3. They are going to read. (to read = leer)
Show answer
  1. Tú vas a comer. (or simply Vas a comer.)
  2. Ella va a trabajar.
  3. Ellos van a leer.

4. Adding Detail with Time Expressions

To make your future plans clearer, you can add time expressions. This is exactly like saying "I'm going to travel tomorrow."

» “Ir A” + Infinitive

The resource 'Ir A + Infinitive' from StudySpanish.com offers a helpful list of common time expressions you can use with this structure.

Scroll down to the list of 'useful words and expressions'. Review these phrases, as they are essential for specifying when your plans will happen.

Here are some of the most useful time expressions:

  • hoy: today
  • esta noche: tonight
  • mañana: tomorrow
  • mañana por la mañana: tomorrow morning
  • más tarde: later
  • el fin de semana: on the weekend
  • la semana que viene / la próxima semana: next week

You can usually place these at the beginning or end of the sentence.

  • Voy a llamar a mis padres **esta noche**. (I am going to call my parents tonight.)
  • **Mañana** vamos a visitar un museo. (Tomorrow we are going to visit a museum.)
  • Él va a descansar **el fin de semana**. (He is going to rest on the weekend.)

This combination of the ir a + infinitive formula with time expressions gives you a powerful and flexible tool for any conversation about plans.

Final Practice

Now, let's put it all together. Translate the following sentences, which are typical of small talk, into Spanish.

  1. I am going to travel to Colombia next month. (next month = el mes que viene)
  2. What are you (informal) going to do tomorrow? (hacer = to do)
  3. We are going to celebrate tonight. (celebrar = to celebrate)
Show answer
  1. Voy a viajar a Colombia el mes que viene.
  2. ¿Qué vas a hacer mañana? (Remember to put the question word Qué at the beginning.)
  3. Vamos a celebrar esta noche.

Conclusion

Excellent work! You've now learned the most common and practical way to discuss future plans in Spanish. By mastering this simple, systematic formula, you've unlocked a huge range of conversational possibilities for the wedding and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Formula: The structure for near-future plans is conjugated ir + a + infinitive.
  • The Moving Part: The only verb you need to conjugate is ir (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van). The main action verb always stays in its infinitive form.
  • Practical Application: You can combine this structure with time expressions like mañana, esta noche, or el fin de semana to make your plans specific.

Preview of the Next Lesson:
Now that you can share your plans, what happens if you don't understand what someone asks you about theirs? In our next lesson, we'll cover another crucial conversational tool: how to ask for clarification and repetition in conversation. This will help you keep the dialogue flowing smoothly, even when you miss a word or phrase.