Ir a + Infinitivo (Perífrasis)
The "ir a + infinitive" construction is used to describe actions that will happen in the future, make predictions, and talk about intentions or plans. It's used in exactly the same way as the simple future tense, but here's the exciting part: it's even MORE common than the official future tense! Native Spanish speakers use this construction constantly in everyday conversation.
Technically, "ir a + infinitive" is called a perífrasis (periphrastic construction), not an official verb tense. Perífrasis are combinations of verbs that work together to express specific meanings. While they don't "count" as official tenses in grammar books, sometimes they work in the exact same way, and in this case, "ir a + infinitive" is often preferred over the simple future!
In Simple Terms: You can use this construction everywhere you would use the future tense, and it will sound more natural and conversational. It's like saying "I'm going to eat" instead of "I will eat" in English.
Excellent news! This is one of the EASIEST ways to express the future in Spanish. There are ZERO irregulars! All you need to do is conjugate the verb "ir" (to go) in the present tense, add "a," and then add any infinitive verb. That's it!
voy a comer, vas a hablar, va a vivir
| Pronoun | Ir |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy |
| Tú | vas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | vamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | vais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van |
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy a hablar |
| Tú | vas a hablar |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va a hablar |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | vamos a hablar |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | vais a hablar |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van a hablar |
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy a comer |
| Tú | vas a comer |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va a comer |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | vamos a comer |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | vais a comer |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van a comer |
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy a vivir |
| Tú | vas a vivir |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va a vivir |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | vamos a vivir |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | vais a vivir |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van a vivir |
This is one of the rare times in Spanish grammar where there are absolutely NO irregular verbs to memorize! Every single verb in the Spanish language works the same way with this construction. Just conjugate "ir" in the present tense, add "a," and add your infinitive verb.
Why This Is Amazing: While the simple future tense has 12 irregular verbs you need to memorize, the going to future has ZERO. This makes it much easier to use, which is probably why native speakers prefer it!
Both constructions mean the same thing and can often be used interchangeably. However, there are some subtle differences in usage:
Voy a estudiar esta noche.
I'm going to study tonight.
Estudiaré medicina el próximo año.
I will study medicine next year.
Bottom Line: When in doubt, use "ir a + infinitive." It's simpler, has no irregulars, and sounds more natural in conversation!
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