Future forms in Spanish

Question

In English we can use a number of ways to indicate the future.

Examples:

I am leaving tomorrow. (Personal plan)

I leave tomorrow. (Fact)

I will leave tommorow. (Prediction)

I am going to leave tomorrow. (Plan)

etc.

Question can the first construction (present continuous) ever be used in Spanish?

In other words can "Estoy saliendo mañana" ever be used?

Answer 1

If you're talking about the present progressive, as far as I understand no it can't - I believe that in Spanish the present progressive can only be used to describe action in progress .

Here's a reference article that covers your question

Present Progressive

On the other hand, just like we do in English, I believe you can use a present tense form of the verb ir (to go) plus the preposition a plus an infinitive as a substitute for the future tense in Spanish. And the bonus is that it's one of the easiest things to master as once you know the present tense of ir you just pair it up with 'a' and any infinitive - easy peasy

Voy a estudiar mañana.

Nice article. I think that's it in a nutshell. - KevinB, Sep 17, 2010

I agree - thanks Maria -Claire - ian-hill, Sep 17, 2010

your more than welcome :) - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 17, 2010

Answer 2

I'm going to see what the experts say, but I'm guessing not. From what I understand the progressive forms just aren't used very much in Spanish, and when they are it's to emphasize that the action is ongoing. I can't say I've ever heard it expressed that way. Mostly I hear voy a + infinitve, followed in frequency by just straight future tense.

Answer 3

The answers mention "voy a + infinitve" to say "I'm going to leave tomorrow."

I just wanted to add that you can also use the simple present "Salgo mañana" / "Voy mañana" to talk about the near future.

Answer 4

no two conjugated verbs in one sentence.

I'm not quite sure I understand. A lot of sentences have more than one conjugated verb - Iba a la bodega roja, a comprar unas nueces para el desayuno de Euclides, cuando noté que Villa Concha había sido ocupada. - KevinB, Sep 17, 2010

Euclides was a monkey. - KevinB, Sep 17, 2010

Let me express my umbrage concerning using Euclides as a name for a monkey, unless you are saying that he was "quarrelsome"". - 0074b507, Sep 18, 2010

Talk to Antonio Benítez Rojo. That's the name he used in "Tute de reyes". - KevinB, Sep 18, 2010