Ir a + infinitive (near future)
A1Grammar path · Lesson 22 of 86 · Stage A1 · Questions, negatives and plans
Use this structure to talk about plans you have already made and things that are clearly about to happen, much like 'going to' in English. The idea is simple: you only conjugate ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, van), then add a and a verb that never changes: voy a estudiar, vamos a comer. Because there are no new endings to learn, it is the easiest way for beginners to talk about the future. It is often confused with the futuro simple (estudiaré): ir a sounds natural for everyday plans and near events, while the simple future sounds more formal, more distant or like a guess.
Practise this lesson · 9 sentences
Form
sujeto + ir (presente) + a + infinitivosujeto + no + ir (presente) + a + infinitivo¿(palabra interrogativa) + ir (presente) + a + infinitivo?When to use it
Plans and intentions
Use it for something you have already decided to do. It is the most common way to talk about plans in everyday conversation.
Predictions based on what you see now
Use it when something you can see or know right now shows that an event is coming. The evidence is in front of the speaker.
Suggestions with vamos a
With nosotros, vamos a + infinitive often means 'let's...'. Intonation and context tell you whether it is a suggestion or a plan.
How “ir a + infinitivo” changes
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
Frequently asked questions
How do you form ir a + infinitive?
Conjugate ir in the present for the subject (voy, vas, va, vamos, van), add a, and keep the next verb in the infinitive. Example: Ella va a trabajar.
Can I drop the a and say voy comer?
No. The a is required, so you must say voy a comer.
What is the difference between voy a hablar and hablaré?
Voy a hablar expresses a decided plan or something about to happen and is very common in speech. Hablaré (futuro simple) sounds more formal and is often used for promises or distant predictions.
How do I say 'was going to' in the past?
Put ir in the imperfect: iba a + infinitive. Example: Iba a llamarte, pero se me olvidó.
Does vamos a + infinitive always mean 'we are going to'?
Not always. Vamos a is also used for suggestions, meaning 'let's...', as in ¡Vamos a comer!
Where do pronouns like me or lo go in this structure?
Put them before the conjugated ir or attach them to the end of the infinitive; both are correct: Lo voy a hacer or Voy a hacerlo.