Introduction
Ir + a + infinitive talks about the future: plans and things that are about to happen. It is the most common way to talk about the future in everyday speech.
ir+a+infinitive
| subject | ir a + infinitive |
|---|---|
| yo | voy a estudiar |
| tú | vas a estudiar |
| él, ella, usted | va a estudiar |
| nosotros | vamos a estudiar |
| vosotros | vais a estudiar |
| ellos, ustedes | van a estudiar |
- Voy a estudiar esta noche.I'm going to study tonight.
- ¿Qué vas a hacer mañana?What are you going to do tomorrow?
- Van a llegar tarde.They're going to arrive late.
- Voy estudiar.Voy a estudiar.
Ir a or the Future Tense
Ir a is used for plans and for things you can see coming. The future tense (estudiaré) sounds more formal or distant, and is common for predictions and promises.
- Mira esas nubes, va a llover.Look at those clouds, it's going to rain.
- Mañana lloverá en el norte.It will rain in the north tomorrow.
For something about to happen any second, use estar a punto de: El tren está a punto de salir (The train is about to leave).
Vamos a as Let's
Vamos a + infinitive can mean we are going to, or let's. The situation makes it clear.
- ¡Vamos a comer!Let's eat!
- Vamos a ver.Let's see.
- El domingo vamos a visitar a mis tíos.On Sunday we're going to visit my aunt and uncle.
With irse, people usually say vámonos: ¡Vámonos! (Let's go!)
Practice
Voy ___ comprar pan.
Nosotros ___ a viajar mañana.
¿Qué ___ a hacer vosotros?
Mi hermana ___ a estudiar medicina.
Van a llegar tarde means ___.
¡Vamos a bailar! most likely means ___.
Mira esas nubes, ___ llover.
El tren ___ salir. (is about to leave)
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