The future tense (Futur I) in German is used to express actions that will happen in the future. While German speakers often use the present tense with future time expressions for upcoming events, Futur I is specifically used in certain contexts:
- Predictions or assumptions about the future:
- Example: Es wird morgen regnen. (It will rain tomorrow.)
- Formal announcements of future events:
- Example: Die Präsidentin wird morgen eine Rede halten. (The president will give a speech tomorrow.)
- Promises or intentions:
- Example: Ich werde dir helfen. (I will help you.)
- Expressing certainty or emphasis:
- Example: Er wird schon zu Hause sein. (He will surely be at home.)
Forming the Future Tense
The future tense is formed with the auxiliary verb werden (conjugated in the present tense) plus the infinitive form of the main verb:
Future Tense is formed as werden (conjugated in present tense) + infinitive
Pronoun | Conjugation of werden | Futur I example with kaufen (to buy) |
ich | werde | ich werde kaufen (I will buy) |
du | wirst | du wirst kaufen (you will buy) |
er/sie/es | wird | er/sie/es wird kaufen (he/she/it will buy) |
wir | werden | wir werden kaufen (we will buy) |
ihr | werdet | ihr werdet kaufen (you all will buy) |
sie/Sie | werden | sie/Sie werden kaufen (they/you formal will buy) |
Word Order in Future Tense
- In a main clause: The conjugated form of werden is in the second position, and the infinitive goes to the end of the clause.
- Example: Ich werde morgen nach Berlin fahren. (I will go to Berlin tomorrow.)
- In a subordinate clause: Both werden and the infinitive go to the end, with werden coming before the infinitive.
- Example: Ich weiß, dass ich morgen nach Berlin fahren werde. (I know that I will go to Berlin tomorrow.)
Future Tense vs. Present Tense for Future Actions
In German, the present tense is often used instead of the future tense when talking about future events, especially when a time expression makes the future context clear:
Future Tense | Present Tense with Future Meaning |
Ich werde morgen nach München fahren.(I will go to Munich tomorrow.) | Ich fahre morgen nach München.(I am going to Munich tomorrow.) |
Sie werden nächstes Jahr heiraten.(They will get married next year.) | Sie heiraten nächstes Jahr.(They are getting married next year.) |
Future Tense with Modal Verbs
When combining future tense with modal verbs, both verbs go to the end of the clause in the infinitive form, with werden conjugated:
- Example:
Ich werde das Buch lesen müssen. (I will have to read the book.)
Sie werden früher kommen können. (They will be able to come earlier.)
Be careful not to confuse the English verb “will” which indicates the future tense with the German modal verb will (from wollen), which means “want/s to” in German.
Example:
- Er will nach Hause gehen. (He wants to go home.) → not future tense but expressing desire
- Er wird nach Hause gehen. (He will go home.) → future tense