Ir a + Infinitive: Expressing Near Future in Spanish

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Expressions and Idioms in Spanish, Spanish – Intermediate, Tenses in Spanish, Verbs in Spanish

Ir a + Infinitive: Expressing Near Future in Spanish

In Spanish, the construction “Ir a + infinitive” is commonly used to express actions that will happen in the near future. This is equivalent to the English “going to + verb” structure. It is widely used in spoken and written Spanish and is easier to learn compared to the simple future tense.

Formation of “Ir a + Infinitive”

The structure consists of three elements:

The verb “ir” (to go) conjugated in the present tense.
The preposition “a” (to).
An infinitive verb (unconjugated verb).

Conjugation of “Ir” in Present Tense:

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation of “Ir”
Yo	voy
Tú	vas
Él/Ella/Usted	va
Nosotros/as	vamos
Vosotros/as	vais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van

Sentence Structure:

Subject + Ir (conjugated) + a + Infinitive Verb

Example Sentences:

Voy a estudiar. (I am going to study.)
Vamos a viajar a México. (We are going to travel to Mexico.)
Ellos van a comprar una casa. (They are going to buy a house.)

Usage of “Ir a + Infinitive”

1. Near Future Actions

Used to express something that is about to happen soon.

Voy a llamar a mi madre. (I am going to call my mother.)
Ella va a cocinar la cena. (She is going to cook dinner.)

2. Intentions or Plans

Used when someone has planned to do something.

Vamos a ver una película esta noche. (We are going to watch a movie tonight.)
Voy a aprender español este año. (I am going to learn Spanish this year.)

3. Predictions Based on Evidence

Used when there is evidence that something is about to happen.

Va a llover. (It is going to rain.)
El bebé va a llorar. (The baby is going to cry.)

4. Giving Commands or Warnings

Used to give warnings or strong suggestions.

Vas a romper el vaso. (You are going to break the glass.)
Van a llegar tarde si no se apuran. (You all are going to be late if you don’t hurry.)

Articles, Gender, and Plural Considerations

When using “Ir a + Infinitive,” remember:

Definite Articles (el, la, los, las) and Indefinite Articles (un, una, unos, unas) should match the noun in gender and number.
- Example: Voy a comprar una bicicleta. (I am going to buy a bicycle.)
- Example: Vamos a visitar el museo. (We are going to visit the museum.)
Verb agreement: The conjugation of “ir” changes based on the subject.
The infinitive verb does not change regardless of the subject.

Common Verbs Used with “Ir a + Infinitive”

Here is a list of common verbs and their “Ir a + Infinitive” forms:

Infinitive Verb	Meaning	“Ir a + Infinitive” Example
Comer	To eat	Voy a comer pizza. (I am going to eat pizza.)
Beber	To drink	Vas a beber agua. (You are going to drink water.)
Estudiar	To study	Ella va a estudiar matemáticas. (She is going to study mathematics.)
Viajar	To travel	Vamos a viajar a España. (We are going to travel to Spain.)
Comprar	To buy	Van a comprar un coche. (They are going to buy a car.)
Hacer	To do/make	Voy a hacer mi tarea. (I am going to do my homework.)
Tener	To have	Vas a tener una sorpresa. (You are going to have a surprise.)
Llegar	To arrive	Ella va a llegar temprano. (She is going to arrive early.)
Jugar	To play	Vamos a jugar fútbol. (We are going to play soccer.)
Dormir	To sleep	Van a dormir temprano. (They are going to sleep early.)

Regular and Irregular Verbs in “Ir a + Infinitive”

All verbs, whether regular or irregular, remain in the infinitive form after “a.”

Regular Verbs (AR, ER, IR Verbs)

Hablar (to speak): Voy a hablar con mi amigo. (I am going to speak with my friend.)
Comer (to eat): Vamos a comer paella. (We are going to eat paella.)
Vivir (to live): Ellos van a vivir en Barcelona. (They are going to live in Barcelona.)

Irregular Verbs

Hacer (to do/make): Voy a hacer la tarea. (I am going to do the homework.)
Tener (to have): Ella va a tener una fiesta. (She is going to have a party.)
Poder (to be able to): Van a poder salir temprano. (They are going to be able to leave early.)

Conclusion

The “Ir a + Infinitive” structure is one of the most practical and commonly used ways to express the near future in Spanish. It is simple to form and widely understood in all Spanish-speaking regions. By practicing this structure with different verbs, you can quickly improve your Spanish fluency and express future plans with confidence.

Now that you understand how to use “Ir a + Infinitive”, start practicing by forming your own sentences!

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