What does it mean to talk about the future? We can talk about the trip you’re planning to Mexico next spring or the soccer game you’re going to on Saturday, or your Spanish tutor session scheduled for this evening. To discuss any of these events in Spanish, we’re going to need to know how to use the future tenses.

Spanish has a tense to talk about the present and two tenses to talk about the past. To make life more interesting, Spanish also has a tense to talk about the future, it is called the "future tense" and it is used to refer to future events. First, it is important to understand that one does NOT need to use the future tense to speak about the future! In Spanish, as in English, there are two ways to talk about future events.

The Spanish future tense is very easy to learn and use, although its structure is completely different than the English future tense. A Spanish verb in the future tense is just one word - in English the future tense requires at least two words. One must place ‘will’ or ‘shall’ in front of the verb. For example: I will go to the store today. I shall pass the exam.

In addition, English also has progressive forms of the future tense which is used to indicate something that will be happening in the future. It is formed by using ‘will’ or ‘shall’ together with ‘be’ and the present participle of the verb.
Examples:

What will you be doing then?

I’ll be relaxing in the dorm room.

He will be asking my dad for some money.

The word ‘going to’ followed by a verb is used to say something that will happen in the near future.
Examples:

I am going to eat a taco.

He is going to attend church services.

Spanish has multiple future tenses, and just like in English, the indicative tense forms of the future tense may also be used to express other things, such as:

Politeness: I have to ask you to not make noise.
Probability or hypothesis: It could have been delayed by the bad weather.
Emotion: We must endure everything silently.