How to Use "Ir + a + Infinitive" for the Future in Spanish

When learning how to talk about the future in Spanish, you don’t always need the traditional future tense. Instead, Spanish speakers frequently use the "ir + a + Infinitive" construction, which is known as the near future tense or "futuro próximo". This structure is one of the easiest and most common ways to express future actions in everyday conversation. In this lesson, we’ll explain how it works and give you plenty of examples to start using it naturally.

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

What Is the "Ir + a + Infinitive" Construction?

In Spanish, the verb ir (to go) can be combined with the preposition a and the infinitive form of another verb to indicate future actions. Here’s the formula:

Ir (conjugated) + a + Infinitive Verb

This structure is similar to saying "going to" in English. For example:

así que seguramente voy a aprender muchas cosas,

so I'm surely going to learn a lot of things,

Caption 14, Amaya Cata de vinos
Play Caption

los alumnos van a visitar una exposición de f'... sobre feminismos

the students are going to visit an exhibit about f'... about feminism

Caption 104, Escuela BCNLIP Presentación de la directora - Part 2
Play Caption

Why Use "Ir + a + Infinitive" Instead of the Future Tense?

While Spanish has a dedicated future tense, the "ir + a + infinitive" construction is often used in everyday speech because it’s simpler and more conversational. In fact, it’s one of the most common ways to talk about the future.

Somos dos, nunca sola vas a ir Y ahora voy, sonriendo junto a ti Somos dos, juntos vamos a vivir

We are two, you will never go alone And now I go, smiling along with you We are two, together we will live

Captions 17-19, Liquits Desde Que
Play Caption

Instead of using the future tense forms irás or viviremos, the Mexican band Liquits uses "ir + a + infinitive," which gives the song a more immediate, conversational tone.

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Examples of "Ir + a + Infinitive" in Action

Here are more examples to help you get comfortable with this construction:

¡Ay, buena idea! Yo voy a buscar a ver si tengo el teléfono en la base de datos.

Oh, good idea! I'm going to look and see if I have the phone number in the database.

Captions 70-71, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 4 - Part 8
Play Caption

ella va a hacer la ensalada y yo voy a hacer la carne.

she is going to make the salad, and I am going to make the meat.

Caption 12, Misión Chef 2 - Pruebas - Part 7
Play Caption

Vamos a ver algunas preguntas para que puedan ver las diferentes opciones que se pueden utilizar en diversos contextos.

We're going to look at some questions so that you can see the different options that can be used in various contexts.

Captions 12-14, Carlos explica 20 formas de decir sí sin decir sí
Play Caption

El próximo año, ellos van a vivir en otro país.

Next year, they are going to live in another country.

Caption 42, Clase Aula Azul Planes para el futuro - Part 2
Play Caption

How to Conjugate the Verb "Ir"

To use this structure correctly, you need to know how to conjugate the verb ir for each person:

Yo voy a (I am going to)

Tú/Vos vas a (You are going to)

Él/Ella | Usted va a (He/She is going to | You [formal] are going to)

Nosotros/Nosotras vamos a (We are going to)

Vosotros/Vosotras vais a (You all are going to)

Ellos/Ellas | Ustedes van a (They | You all are going to)

"Ir + a + Infinitive" vs. the Future Tense

While both forms are correct, "ir + a + infinitive" is more commonly used in spoken Spanish. It’s simpler and feels more natural in everyday conversation. So, next time you want to talk about your future plans, try using this structure!

That’s it for today. Ready to start using the "ir + a + infinitive" structure in your Spanish conversations? Leave us a comment with your own example sentences, and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.