When speaking of a future event

Question

When speaking of future event is the conjugated verb "ir" used more often than the conjugated future ending in colloquial speech'

Answer 1

When speaking of future event is the conjugated verb "ir" used more often than the conjugated future ending in colloquial speech?

There are many ways to refer to the future, Roberb, and each one is used for a particular intention. From a colloquial point of view, the periphrastic form with "ir": "Voy a comer" (I am going to eat) is statistically the most common one (40%-60%), although the present tense and the future tense are also used, each one differently.

Answer 2

Robert, there is also a lesson where Paralee tells you about future tense, I have not got to it yet, but I noticed it...

Answer 3

Let's continue:

In Spanish there are three ways to talk about the future (and "I am coming tomorrow" does not exist in Spanish):

Present tense: whatever is happening or will happen, it is presented as a positive factual thing; there is no doubt about this thing happening now, or later. Welcome to absoluteland.

Periphrasis "ir a + inf.": If everything goes as planned, and all events follow the expected sequence, this constructions allows you to express your best projection about your final expected result. This result has somehow a connection with the present.

Future tense: despite its name, it is used to make approximations about what things are or will be, regardless of the normal course of events. If you let things continue, you may find that things may actually happen that way, but this is not necessarily a consequence of the logical or planned sequence of events: these things may or may not happen. No one is connecting their reality with the known present moment.

Answer 4

Lazarus, if "I am coming tomorrow" does not exist in Spanish, then what would you say'

Answer 5

Lazarus, if "I am coming tomorrow" does not exist in Spanish, then what would you say?

In Spanish, "I am coming" only makes sense NOW (I am coming NOW = I am NOW coming = Now I am coming), not tomorrow. In the future we'd be forced to say: "I will be coming TOMORROW".

You have the three options outlined above:

If you are stating something you see as an undeniable fact, use present tense.
If you think that everything NOW points towards you going to that place, use "voy a ir".
If you coming to that place is a future event, not necessarily linked with the present moment (this is subjective), use future tense.

All three are possible. Which one do you fancy communicating here'

Answer 6

well yeah that sounds right, like you cannot say "I am thirteen years old" you have to say "I have thirteen years of age" so you couldent say "Estoy trece" you would have to say "Tengo trece años", but back to what you were saying... yeah It sounds right to me now, Thanks!

Answer 7

It's not quite the same: in Spanish we don't say "Tengo trece" unless you possess 13 items other than years.

"Soy 13 años" would mean that either that's your name, or being 13 years old is what defines who you are. "Ser" is used to classify and identify.

"Estoy 13 años" would imply that you find yourself in a situation that can be described as "having 13 years". While it is not wrong, it is extremely weird.

Answer 8

Can I say "[/b]llega mañana[b]" to express that a person is definitely arriving tomorrow'

Answer 9

Thanks Lazuras! That is the best explanation I have ever read!
But "Voy ir a casa" sounds unnesessarily long as compared to "ire a casa".
Your explanation indicates they differ in a degree of certainty and intention.
It seems to me,when I read the Spanish news, that I rarely see the verb in its future conjugated form.
I suspect most speakers would simply say "Voy a casa" for both a planned action as well as a progressive and present action. Would "Estoy yendo a casa" ever be used'"

Answer 10

Can I say "[/b]llega mañana[b]" to express that a person is definitely arriving tomorrow?

That's exactly how we say it.

Answer 11

It seems to me,when I read the Spanish news, that I rarely see the verb in its future conjugated form.

I suspect most speakers would simply say "Voy a casa" for both a planned action as well as a progressive and present action. Would "Estoy yendo a casa" ever be used'"

Present tense makes everything positive, encompassing past, present and future. The periphrasis "ir a + inf" makes a subjective connection between unknown present or future events, and the present reality, so it often suggests certain intentionality or involvement in the course of events. Future tense is more detached from the present reality (it simply makes approximations), and because of this "detachment", it is the preferred option for news and formal writings about future events, as it suggests less compromise from the speaker about its certainty, even when the news reporters and the audience know that those events are pretty certain. It is a matter of style: people don't talk among friends and family like journalists do on TV.

I suspect most speakers would simply say "Voy a casa" for both a planned action as well as a progressive and present action. Would "Estoy yendo a casa" ever be used'"

With verbs of motion it is very rare the use of progressive form sin Spanish, such as "Estoy yendo a casa", because they tend to be incompatible with the concept of progression in the language.

Answer 12

Thanks again Lazuras.I did not know that.