How To Form The Portuguese Future Tense [Easy Guide]

We have all heard phrases like "Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow." You might have even heard songs with these lyrics. While the future is uncertain, one thing actually is: we must talk about it.

If you're learning Portuguese, understanding the different ways to talk about the future is a must because it will help you discuss actions that will take place later in time and also express your ideas about what lies ahead. So, in this article, we will cover some of the different ways of expressing the future in Portuguese, giving you the tools you'll need to use future tenses confidently in your conversations.

Portuguese Verb Conjugation In The Future Tense

In Portuguese, verbs are divided into two main categories: regular and irregular, each adhering to distinct conjugation rules. In this section, we will learn about these categories and explore how verbs are conjugated in the future tense in Portuguese. Understanding these rules will help you express future actions and intentions effectively. Let's look at verb conjugation's intricacies to easily navigate the future tense.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs in Portuguese follow a consistent pattern. For instance, for verbs ending in -ar, -er, and -ir, the future tense conjugations are added to the infinitive form of the verb:

Falar (to speak): falarei, falarás, falará, falaremos, falarão

• Comer (to eat): comerei, comerás, comerá, comeremos, comerão
• Partir (to leave): partirei, partirás, partirá, partiremos, partirão

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns and must be memorized. Here are some examples:

• Dizer (to say): direi, dirás, dirá, diremos, dirão
• Fazer (to do/make): farei, farás, fará, faremos, farão
• Trazer (to bring): trarei, trarás, trará, traremos, trarão

How To Use the Verb "Ir + Infinitive" To Form the Future

One of the most common ways to express the future in Portuguese is by using the construction "ir + infinitive." This structure is similar to the English "going to + verb" and involves conjugating the verb "ir" (to go) in the present tense followed by an infinitive verb.

Examples:

• Eu vou falar. (I am going to speak.)
• Eles vão partir. (They are going to leave.)
• Ela vai comprar um carro novo esta semana. (She is going to buy a new car this week.)

This form is frequently used in everyday conversation due to its simplicity and clarity. It is typically employed when discussing planned or imminent actions.

How To Discuss Future Events In Portuguese Using The Present Tense?

Like Spanish and other languages, Portuguese allows you to indicate future actions using the present tense. This is possible when we discuss events and when the context clearly indicates a future time frame. Let's see how this works!

Examples:

• Amanhã, eu trabalho. (Tomorrow, I work.)
• Eles chegam na próxima semana. (They arrive next week.)
• Daqui a dois anos, ele se forma na universidade. ("In two years, he graduates from university.)

What Is The Future Continuous In Portuguese?

The Future Continuous tense in Portuguese allows us to describe actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future. This tense helps to illustrate ongoing activities, giving a detailed view of what will happen later on. Let's explore how this tense is formed and when it is commonly used in Portuguese.

It is formed by combining the future indicative of the verb "estar" with the gerund of the main verb:

Examples:

• Estarei falando. (I will be speaking.)
• Às 10h, estarei estudando. (At 10 o'clock, I will be studying.)
• Estarão viajando amanhã. (They will be traveling tomorrow.)

Understanding The  Portuguese Simple Future Tense "Futuro do Indicativo"

The Futuro do Indicativo, or Simple Future Tense, is used in Portuguese to make straightforward predictions and discuss plans. It helps you express actions that will happen in the future clearly and directly. This tense can be useful in everyday conversations, written communications, and formal settings.

Since we already learned how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs in a previous section, let's see some practical examples:

-Eu falarei com ele amanhã. (I will speak with him tomorrow.)

-Nós comeremos pizza na sexta-feira. (We will eat pizza on Friday.)

-Ela dirá a verdade na reunião. (She will tell the truth at the meeting.)

-Ele fará um ótimo trabalho no projeto.(He will do a great job on the project.)

-Eles trarão os documentos necessários. (They will bring the necessary documents.)

What Is The Future Perfect In Portuguese?

The Future Perfect tense, known as "Futuro Perfeito" in Portuguese, is used to describe actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future. This tense allows you to talk about events that will be finished before another future event or time. Understanding how to use the Future Perfect can help you express plans, expectations, and predictions more precisely. Let's explore how this tense is formed and used in Portuguese, along with some practical examples.

How Form The Futuro Perfeito

The Future Perfect tense in Portuguese is formed using the future indicative of the auxiliary verb "ter" (to have) followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here's how it works:

• Eu terei falado (I will have spoken)
• Você terá comido (You will have eaten)
• Eles terão partido (They will have left)

Here are some practical examples of the Future Perfect tense in action:

• Quando você chegar, eu já terei terminado o trabalho. (When you arrive, I will have already finished the work.)
• Eles terão completado o projeto antes do prazo. (They will have completed the project before the deadline)
• Nós já teremos viajado quando você ligar. (We will have already traveled when you call.)

How To Use The Future Subjunctive In Portuguese?

The future subjunctive or futuro do conjuntivo in Portuguese, describes actions that may happen in the future but are uncertain or hypothetical. It's often used after certain words that suggest uncertainty, like "quando" (when), "se" (if), and expressions like "espero que" (I hope that). It helps to talk about actions that might happen in the future, depending on certain conditions.

How To Form The Futuro do Conjuntivo

As we have seen above, the conjugation of verbs differs depending on whether they are regular or irregular. Let's see how each group works!

Regular Verbs

For regular verbs, the future subjunctive is formed similarly to the verb's infinitive form. The only thing you need to add is the right ending to the infinitive without removing any letters. Let me show you what I mean:

• Eu (I): (none) – stays the same as the infinitive
• Tu (You, informal): -es
• Ele/Ela/Você (He/She/You, formal): (none) – stays the same as the infinitive
• Nós (We): -mos
• Eles/Elas/Vocês (They/You all): -em

For example, take the verb "falar" (to speak):

• Eu falar (I speak)
• Tu falares (You speak)
• Ele/Ela/Você falar (He/She/You speak)
• Nós falarmos (We speak)
• Eles/Elas/Vocês falarem (They/You all speak)

Examples:

1. Eu espero que você venha à festa.  (I hope that you come to the party.)
2. Quando ele partir, avisaremos a todos. (When he leaves, we will notify everyone.)
3. Se eles puderem, virão nos visitar. (If they can, they will come visit us.)

Irregular Verbs

For irregular verbs, to form the future subjunctive, you can start with the verb's third person plural (they) in the past tense and remove the -am ending. Then, you add specific endings depending on who is doing the action:

For example, take the verb "fazer" (to do/make):

• The third person plural in the simple past tense is "fizeram".
• Remove the -am ending: "fizer-."

Add the future subjunctive endings:

• Eu fizer (I do/make)
• Tu fizeres (You do/make)
• Ele/Ela/Você fizer (He/She/You do/make)
• Nós fizermos (We do/make)
• Eles/Elas/Vocês fizerem (They/You all do/make)

Irregular Verbs Examples:

1. Assim que eu tiver notícias, informarei vocês. (As soon as I have news, I will inform you.)
2. Espero que ela faça um bom trabalho. (I hope she does a good job.)
3. Se nós quisermos sucesso, precisamos trabalhar duro. (If we want success, we need to work hard.)

Tips To Master The Portuguese Future Tense

Mastering the Portuguese future tense involves understanding its different forms and knowing when to use each one effectively. Here are some tips to help you become proficient in using the future tense:

1. Start by memorizing the conjugation patterns for regular and irregular verbs in the future tense. Practice conjugating verbs across different verb groups (-ar, -er, -ir) so you can remember their endings.
   
2. Like any language skill, practice is key to mastering the future tense. Create sentences and scenarios using future actions in everyday contexts to reinforce your understanding.
   
3. Familiarize yourself with when to use each future tense form, such as the simple future ("futuro do indicativo"), future perfect ("futuro perfeito"), and future subjunctive ("futuro do subjuntivo"). Pay attention to the nuances in meaning each form conveys.
   
4. Engage with Portuguese media, such as books, movies, and news articles, to see how the future tense is used in real-life situations. This exposure will help you grasp natural language usage and idiomatic expressions.
   
5. Practice speaking and writing with native speakers or language instructors who can provide feedback on your usage of the future tense. Correcting mistakes early on will reinforce proper usage and build confidence.
   
6. Connect new vocabulary and grammar rules with contexts relevant to your interests or daily life. This approach makes learning the future tense more meaningful and memorable.
   
7. Regularly review the rules and structures of the future tense to solidify your knowledge. Use flashcards or quizzes to test yourself on conjugations and usage scenarios.
   

FAQs About The Portuguese Future Tense

1. How Many Present Tenses Are There In Portuguese?

Portuguese has one present indicative tense, but it's versatile and can express both ongoing actions and habits.

2. How Many Tenses Does Portuguese Have?

Portuguese has multiple tenses, including past, present, and future, each used for different purposes.

3. Is Portuguese A Harsh Language?

Actually, it is not. Portuguese is not considered a harsh language. It has a melodious and rhythmic quality, with softer sounds compared to some other languages.

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