German Future 1 Tense: Mastering the Future Tense in German

The Future 1 plays a very important role in the German grammar and it is one of the most used tenses. In this article you are going to learn how and when to use the simple future in German, additionally you see examples.

How to use the Future tense in German

The German Futur 1 tense is versatile in its application, extending beyond mere statements of future events. Its usage encompasses a range of scenarios where the speaker wishes to convey intentions, predictions, and assumptions regarding future occurrences.

Future Events: Primarily, it is employed to discuss actions or events that are planned or anticipated to occur in the future. This usage is straightforward and mirrors the function of the future tense in many languages. It is particularly useful in formal planning or when specifying future arrangements.

Examples:

Wir werden nächstes Jahr nach Deutschland reisen. (We will travel to Germany next year.)
Die Konferenz wird im Mai stattfinden. (The conference will take place in May.)

Predictions: It is also instrumental in making predictions. The Futur can help to present probability. These predictions can be based on evidence or personal belief about what will happen. This aspect of the future tense is often used in weather forecasts, scientific conjectures, or in expressing opinions about probable future outcomes. For instance:

Die Experten sagen, die Wirtschaft wird wachsen. (Experts say the economy will grow.)
Ich glaube, dass es morgen kalt werden wird. (I believe it will become cold tomorrow.)

Assumptions or Guesses: Another significant use is to express assumptions or guesses, especially concerning the present or future state of affairs. This is typically based on the speaker's intuition or indirect information. It is a nuanced way of expressing likelihood or making educated guesses. Examples include:

Sie wird wohl schon schlafen. (She is probably already sleeping.)
Das Paket wird bald ankommen. (The package will arrive soon.)

In all these instances, Futur I adds a layer of foresight or conjecture to the statement. This tense is not merely about relaying facts set in the future; it is also about the speaker's perspective or expectations regarding what is yet to occur. It's important to note that while Futur I is grammatically correct for these uses, in colloquial German, the present tense often replaces it, especially when the context or a time marker makes the future implication clear. Nonetheless, in formal writing and speech, the use of Futur I provides clarity and precision, particularly in academic or professional settings.

How to form the German future tense

The formation of the German Future 1 (Futur I) involves the auxiliary verb 'werden' (to become) and the infinitive form of the main verb. This structure is pivotal in conveying future actions or intentions in German. The auxiliary verb (helping verb) 'werden' is conjugated in the present tense according to the subject of the sentence, playing a critical role in indicating the future tense. The main verb, which carries the core meaning, is not conjugated but instead is placed at the end of the sentence in its infinitive form. This syntactic structure is a defining characteristic of German Future 1 and is crucial for clear communication of future events or plans.

How conjugate German Futur 1

The conjugation of “werden" varies with the person and number of the subject. For instance, 'ich werde' is used for the first person singular, 'du wirst' for the second person singular, 'er/sie/es wird' for the third person singular, 'wir werden' for the first person plural, 'ihr werdet' for the second person plural, and 'sie/Sie werden' for the third person plural and formal address. This variation ensures that the sentence accurately reflects the subject who will undertake the future action.

Conjugation of werden

ich werde = I will
du wirst = you will
er/sie/es wird = he/she/it will
wir werden = we will
ihr werdet = you (plural) will
sie/Sie werden =they/you (formal) will

Examples of how to use the German Futur together with werden and an infinitive

Ich werde in den Park gehen. I will go to the park.
Du wirst viel Spaß auf der Reise haben. You will have a lot of fun on the trip.
Tina wird nächstes Jahr in eine neue Wohnung umziehen. Tina will be moving into a new apartment next year.
Wir werden unsere Freunde nächste Woche treffen. We will meet our friends next week.
Ihr werdet schwimmen gehen. You will go swimming.
Die Studenten werden viel für die Klausur lernen. The students will learn a lot for the exam.

Word Order

The word order is a critical aspect of its correct usage. In this chapter you can read, how to use the word order of the Futur in a main sentence and a subordinate clause. If you are struggling with the word order in general, you can read more about it: here.

Main Clauses

In main sentences, the conjugated form of 'werden' always takes the second position. This is a fundamental rule of German syntax, known as the 'verb-second' word order. The subject can precede or follow 'werden', depending on whether the sentence starts with the subject or another element like an adverbial phrase. The infinitive is positioned at the end.

Examples:

Morgen werde ich ins Kino gehen. (Tomorrow, I will go to the cinema.)
Bald werden wir die Ergebnisse erfahren. (Soon, we will learn the results.)

Subordinate Clauses

It is introduced by conjunctions such as 'dass' (that),'weil' (because),or 'wenn' (if),the conjugated 'werden' moves to the end, following the infinitive verb. This is known as the 'verb-final' word order.

Examples:

Ich hoffe, dass du bald wieder gesund werden wirst. (I hope that you will get well soon.)
Sie sagte, dass sie morgen kommen werden. (She said that they will come tomorrow.)

When to use the Future tense and when to use the simple present?

Examples:

Morgen werde ich ins Kino gehen. Tomorrow I will go to the cinema.
Morgen gehe ich ins Kino. Tomorrow I'm going to the cinema.

If an event in the future is very likely to happen e.g there is already a fixed plan, then you should use the present tense. In this example, it could mean that you already bought the ticket for the cinema.

It is important to know that in the spoken German language, people almost always use the Futur and not the present.

How to form the Futur with Modal Verbs?

The verb conjugation for Modal verbs is made in another way and one could say that they are an irregular form. It is formed by using a form of "werden" + infinitive + infinitive of the modal verb at the end.

Examples:

Der Junge wird die Aufgabe machen müssen. The boy will have to do the task.
Die Studenten werden für die Prüfung viel lernen müssen. The students will have to study a lot for the exam.