The Easiest Way to Use the Future Tense in Portuguese

Do you struggle with verb conjugations in Portuguese? I’d say that conjugations are challenging for every learner of Portuguese. Today you will learn an easy verb tense: the future tense in Portuguese using the verb Ir.

There are two ways to express the simple future tense (futuro do indicativo) in Portuguese.

You can use what I will call the formal conjugation of the verb. You just need to memorize it like you do with every other verb tense.

Or you can express the future tense in Portuguese using the verb Ir. This is a bit more informal, but it is the predominant form in spoken Brazilian Portuguese and in informal written Portuguese.

Let me show you how to do this. Here is the video:

Future Tense in Portuguese Using the Verb Ir

To express the simple future (futuro do indicativo) using the verb Ir, all you need to know is the present tense (presente do indicativo) conjugation of the verb Ir. I have a Portuguese lesson with all you need to know to conjugate the verb Ir and use it correctly.

Here are two sentences in the future tense using the verb Ir:

1. Eu vou viajar depois de amanhã. = I am going to travel the day after tomorrow.
2. Raquel vai vender o carro dela. = Raquel is going to sell her car.

Notice that in both sentences I simply used:

1. the present tense of Ir: Eu vou, Raquel vai
2. the infinitive of the main verb: viajar, vender

That’s it! Easy, right?

Below are three more examples followed by a practice exercise.

1. Mary vai morar no Brasil no ano que vem. = Mary is going to live in Brazil next year.
2. Nós vamos contratar um novo funcionário. = We are going to hire a new employee.
3. João e Ana vão chegar atrasados. = João e Ana are going to arrive late.

Tip to use the verb Ir correctly

To express the action of going somewhere in the future, use the verb Ir only once, conjugated in the present tense. For example:

Correct: Jeane vai ao parque mais tarde. = Jeane is going to the park later today.

Incorrect: Jeane vai ir ao parque mais tarde.

Tip for Spanish Speakers

In Portuguese, there is no “a” between the verb Ir and the main verb when you are using the future tense in Portuguese with the verb Ir. Did you notice that? Your auto-pilot will go crazy wanting to say the “a”.

Practice exercise to improve your Portuguese

The secret to speaking a new language comfortably is practice, practice, practice.

Street Smart Brazil offers one-on-one Portuguese lessons via video meetings. Book a Trial Lesson with us to get started.

Exercise:

Translate the following sentences to Portuguese. The answers are below.

1. Joana is going to buy a house.
2. I will live in Florianópolis.
3. I am going to start a new job next week.
4. Celso and Sílvia are going to the beach.
5. Are you going to the party on Saturday?
6. I am going to the movies. Are you going, too?
7. I am hungry. I am going to have breakfast. Are you going to eat?
8. It is going to rain this week.
9. Roberta and I are going to spend vacation in Greece.
10. They are not going to answer that letter.

Check your answers:

1. Joana vai comprar uma casa.
2. Eu vou morar em Florianópolis.
3. Eu vou começar um novo trabalho na próxima semana.
4. Celso e Sílvia vão à praia.
5. Você vai para a festa no sábado?
6. Eu vou ao cinema. Você vai também?
7. Estou com fome. Vou tomar café da manhã. Você vai comer?
8. Vai chover esta semana.
9. Roberta e eu vamos passar férias na Grécia.
10. Eles não vão responder aquela carta.