Talking about the future

Conjugate ir, add a, then the infinitive

• Voy a comer.I'm going to eat.
• Vamos a viajar en mayo.We're going to travel in May.
• ¿Vas a venir?Are you going to come?

It's the normal choice in conversation

• Mañana voy a ir al mercado.Tomorrow I'm going to go to the market.
• Va a llover.It's going to rain.

Pronouns go before ir or attach to the infinitive

• Te voy a llamar.I'm going to call you.
• Voy a llamarte.I'm going to call you.

Hay becomes va a haber

• Va a haber una fiesta.There's going to be a party.

It stays singular: Va a haber muchas personas.

Use the present for plans and schedules, with a time word

• Mañana salgo para Bogotá.I'm leaving for Bogotá tomorrow.
• El vuelo sale a las ocho.The flight leaves at eight.

Offers and suggestions also use the present

• ¿Te ayudo?Shall I help you?
• Te llamo luego.I'll call you later.

Promises and strong intentions

• Siempre te amaré.I'll always love you.
• Te pagaré el viernes.I'll pay you on Friday.

News, forecasts and formal plans

• Mañana lloverá en toda la isla.It will rain across the whole island tomorrow.

Guessing about the present

• ¿Qué hora será?I wonder what time it is.
• Serán las dos.It must be about two.
• Estará en casa.He's probably at home.

This use has nothing to do with the future.

After cuando and similar words, a future event takes the subjunctive, not the future

• Te llamo cuando llegue.I'll call you when I arrive.
• Voy a comer cuando termine.I'm going to eat when I finish.

Cuando llegaré is a common learner mistake.

Iba a + infinitive: was going to

• Iba a llamarte, pero se me olvidó.I was going to call you, but I forgot.

The conditional reports what someone said would happen

• Dijo que vendría.He said he would come.