Spanish Reference Grammar - Verbs
The future
To imply the future, you don't have to use the future tense with younger pupils. You can use the immediate future instead.
The immediate future is so called because it describes something that you are just about to do, and it's a simple way of forming the future tense.
In English, the immediate future would be 'I’m going to wash the dishes' rather than 'I will wash the dishes'.
How do you form the immediate future in Spanish?
In Spanish, as in English, the immediate future is formed by using the present tense of the verb 'to go' - 'ir'. This is followed immediately by 'a' then an infinitive.
For example:
'Voy a mirar la tele.' - I’m going to watch television.'
'Vamos a ir a España.' - 'We’re going to go to Spain.'
Points to note
The use of the immediate future at the later stages of learning the language opens up the opportunity for greater flexibility in speech and in pupils’ conceptual awareness when using Spanish, and is a very important part of the work.
The present tense can be used to express futurity if it is accompanied by an appropriate adverb or adverbial expression.
For example:
If you are travelling by train, it is five pm, and you say 'llegamos a las seis' ('We will arrive at six'), you are expressing futurity though strictly speaking you are using the present tense.