German grammar · Elementary (A2)
Talking about the future: present tense and werden
How German talks about the future: the present tense with a time word for plans, and werden + infinitive for predictions and promises.
The present tense for plans
German usually talks about the future with the present tense and a time word. English would use “will”, “going to” or “-ing”, but German doesn't need a special form: (I'm coming on Saturday). (we're going to Cologne tomorrow).
- Nächste Woche habe ich Urlaub.I'm on holiday next week.
- Wir treffen uns um acht.We're meeting at eight.
- Dann backen wir einen Kuchen.Then we'll bake a cake.
werden + infinitive
The Futur is formed with in second position and the infinitive at the end. Use it to predict what will happen, especially when there's no time word, for promises, and to stress that something will really happen:
| Person | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| / / | ||
| / |
werden on its own: to become
Without a second verb, means “to become” or “to get”: (it's getting cold), (she's turning thirty). So asks what the weather will be like. Don't confuse it with : means “I want”, not “I will”.
- Im Oktober wird es früh dunkel.In October it gets dark early.
- Ich werde im Mai dreißig.I'll be thirty in May.
- Ich will ins Kino gehen.I want to go to the cinema.
Time words for the future
Time words usually come early in the sentence. If one comes first, the verb still comes second:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| tomorrow | |
| the day after tomorrow | |
| next week | |
| next month | |
| next year | |
| soon | |
| later | |
| in two days |