A1 Future & Conditional 17 min read Easy

Future Tense: Using `ir + infinitive`

To talk about future plans, just conjugate the verb ir and add the infinitive.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the verb 'ir' (to go) + the infinitive of your main verb to talk about future plans.

  • Conjugate 'ir' in the present tense: 'Eu vou', 'Você vai', etc.
  • Add the main verb in its original infinitive form (ending in -ar, -er, or -ir).
  • For negatives, place 'não' before the verb 'ir': 'Eu não vou comer'.
Subject + [ir (present)] + [infinitive verb] + (rest of sentence)

Overview

The construction ir + infinitive serves as the primary and most versatile method for expressing future actions and intentions in spoken Portuguese, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese. While a simple future tense (futuro simples) exists, its usage is largely confined to formal contexts, written communication, or specific nuanced meanings. For beginners at an A1 level, mastering ir + infinitive unlocks immediate communication about future plans and predictions, making it an indispensable tool.

This structure directly parallels English phrases such as "going to do something" or "will do something," providing an accessible entry point into Portuguese future expressions.

Linguistically, this is a periphrastic future, meaning it uses multiple words (the conjugated verb ir and a main verb in its infinitive form) to convey a grammatical function that other tenses might achieve with a single, morphologically altered verb. Its prevalence stems from its semantic clarity and the comparative ease of its formation, requiring only the present tense conjugation of ir combined with any infinitive verb. This avoids the complexities of memorizing an entirely new set of future tense endings, which are often irregular in more advanced tenses.

The ir + infinitive structure allows for a fluid and natural flow in conversation, reflecting real-time decision-making and immediate plans.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Ir (to go) Present Tense Conjugation
:-------------- :-------------------------------------
Eu vou
Tu vais
Você/Ele/Ela vai
Nós vamos
Vós ides
Vocês/Eles/Elas vão

How This Grammar Works

The ir + infinitive construction operates as a compound verb form, where ir acts as an auxiliary verb, shedding its literal meaning of "to go" and instead functioning as a marker of future intention or prediction. The infinitive verb then carries the primary semantic load, identifying the specific action to be performed.
Consider the sentence Eu vou estudar. Here, vou (from ir) signals futurity, while estudar (to study) specifies the action. You are not literally "going to a place to study"; rather, you "are going to study" as a future event.
This grammatical mechanism provides flexibility: you can express any future action by simply substituting the infinitive verb while keeping the ir auxiliary consistent with the subject.
This structure reflects a general linguistic tendency in many languages to form future tenses from verbs of movement or desire. In Portuguese, the ir + infinitive evolved as a more colloquial and accessible alternative to the older, synthetic futuro simples. Its widespread adoption in everyday speech highlights its efficiency and clarity for conveying immediate or planned future events.
The simplicity of requiring only one conjugated verb (ir) makes it inherently less prone to conjugation errors for learners, facilitating earlier fluency in discussing future activities.
  • Ela vai falar com o chefe. (She is going to speak with the boss.) — ir indicates future, falar is the action.
  • Nós vamos jantar fora hoje. (We are going to dine out today.) — ir sets the future context, jantar is the main activity.
  • Eles vão viajar para a Europa. (They are going to travel to Europe.) — The intention to travel is expressed through ir and viajar.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with ir + infinitive is straightforward and follows a consistent pattern. Understanding this structure is key to building accurate future tense expressions.
2
The general formula is:
3
[Subject (optional)] + [Conjugated ir (present tense)] + [Infinitive Verb] + [Rest of the sentence]
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Subject: This indicates who is performing the action. It can be an explicit pronoun (e.g., Eu, Você, Nós), a noun (e.g., A Maria, Os alunos), or implied by the verb conjugation itself (as Portuguese is a pro-drop language, meaning subjects can often be omitted if clear from context). For A1 learners, it is generally safer to include the subject explicitly.
5
Conjugated ir (present tense): This is the auxiliary verb that denotes future intent. It must be conjugated in the present tense to match the subject (refer to the "Conjugation Table" above).
6
Infinitive Verb: This is the main action verb. It always remains in its original, unconjugated form (e.g., comer, fazer, dormir, ir). This is a crucial point: do not conjugate the second verb.
7
Examples illustrating the pattern:
8
Eu vou aprender português. (I am going to learn Portuguese.)
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Eu (Subject) + vou (Conjugated ir) + aprender (Infinitive verb)
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Ele vai trabalhar amanhã. (He is going to work tomorrow.)
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Ele (Subject) + vai (Conjugated ir) + trabalhar (Infinitive verb)
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Nós vamos comer pizza. (We are going to eat pizza.)
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Nós (Subject) + vamos (Conjugated ir) + comer (Infinitive verb)
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This pattern is robust and applies universally to all regular and irregular verbs in Portuguese, as the irregularity of the main verb does not affect its infinitive form. This consistent structure is a significant advantage for learners.

When To Use It

The ir + infinitive construction is highly versatile and used for various types of future expressions in everyday Portuguese. Its naturalness and immediacy make it suitable for nearly all casual and semi-formal contexts.
1. Definite Plans and Intentions: This is its most common application, expressing actions that you have decided to do or that are already arranged.
  • Amanhã, eu vou visitar meus pais. (Tomorrow, I am going to visit my parents.)
  • Nós vamos comprar um carro novo no próximo mês. (We are going to buy a new car next month.)
  • Você vai estudar para a prova? (Are you going to study for the test?)
2. Predictions Based on Current Evidence: When there is an observable sign or strong indication that something will happen, ir + infinitive is used to make a prediction.
  • (Looking at dark clouds) Acho que vai chover. (I think it's going to rain.)
  • (Seeing someone stumble) Cuidado! Você vai cair! (Careful! You are going to fall!)
  • Pelo visto, a economia vai melhorar. (Apparently, the economy is going to improve.)
3. Imminent Actions (Near Future): To describe something that is about to happen very soon.
  • O ônibus vai chegar a qualquer momento. (The bus is going to arrive any moment.)
  • Estou com fome, vou preparar algo para comer. (I'm hungry, I'm going to prepare something to eat.)
  • A reunião vai começar em cinco minutos. (The meeting is going to start in five minutes.)
4. General Future Actions in Colloquial Speech: In informal conversations, this structure often replaces the futuro simples even for less definite or more distant future events, simply because it feels more natural and less formal.
  • Um dia, as crianças vão ter aulas online. (One day, children will have online classes.) — Instead of terão.
  • No futuro, a inteligência artificial vai mudar nossas vidas. (In the future, artificial intelligence will change our lives.) — Instead of mudará.
5. Questions about Future Plans: When inquiring about someone's intentions or what they will do.
  • O que você vai fazer nas férias? (What are you going to do on vacation?)
  • Quando vocês vão se casar? (When are you going to get married?)
  • Eles vão vir para a festa? (Are they going to come to the party?)
This construction covers the vast majority of future expressions you will encounter and need to produce in daily interactions. It conveys a sense of certainty, immediacy, or clear intention, making it the default choice for effective communication.

Common Mistakes

Even with its relative simplicity, learners often encounter a few specific pitfalls when using ir + infinitive. Awareness of these common errors can significantly improve your accuracy and fluency.
1. Forgetting to Conjugate ir: This is perhaps the most fundamental error. The verb ir must be conjugated in the present tense to agree with the subject. Leaving it in the infinitive (ir) makes the sentence grammatically incorrect, similar to saying "I to go eat" in English.
  • Incorrect: Eu ir comer.
  • Correct: Eu vou comer. (I am going to eat.)
  • Incorrect: Nós ir trabalhar.
  • Correct: Nós vamos trabalhar. (We are going to work.)
2. Inserting a after ir: A very common mistake, especially for Spanish speakers, who use ir a + infinitive. In Portuguese, you do not use a between the conjugated ir and the infinitive verb. This distinction is crucial.
  • Incorrect: Eu vou a falar.
  • Correct: Eu vou falar. (I am going to speak.)
  • Incorrect: Eles vão a estudar.
  • Correct: Eles vão estudar. (They are going to study.)
3. The Redundant Double ir (ir ir): When the main verb of the future action is also ir (meaning "to go"), many learners incorrectly form ir + ir + infinitive. While Eu vou ir à praia (I am going to go to the beach) is technically understandable, it sounds awkward and redundant to native speakers. The more natural and idiomatic construction uses ir only once, implying the movement.
  • Awkward/Redundant: Eu vou ir à praia.
  • Better: Eu vou à praia. (I am going to the beach.) — Here, vou functions as the main verb of movement.
  • Awkward/Redundant: Nós vamos ir para casa.
  • Better: Nós vamos para casa. (We are going home.)
  • Exception: Sometimes, Eu vou ir is used to add emphasis or indicate a strong intention, but it is less common in natural conversation and usually best avoided by learners.
4. Conjugating the Infinitive Verb: Remember that the second verb always remains in its infinitive form. Attempting to conjugate it will lead to grammatical errors.
  • Incorrect: Ele vai falas.
  • Correct: Ele vai falar. (He is going to speak.)
  • Incorrect: Nós vamos comemos.
  • Correct: Nós vamos comer. (We are going to eat.)
5. Confusion with other auxiliary verbs: While ir + infinitive is common, do not generalize this pattern to all other verbs of movement. For instance, vir (to come) or chegar (to arrive) do not typically form a periphrastic future with an infinitive in the same way ir does.
  • Incorrect: Eu venho comer. (Meaning "I come to eat," not "I will eat.")
  • Correct (for future): Eu vou comer.
By being mindful of these specific points, you can avoid common pitfalls and use ir + infinitive with greater confidence and accuracy.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Portuguese offers several ways to express future events, and understanding the nuances between them is vital for advanced communication. For an A1 learner, the primary contrast will be with the futuro simples and the use of the present tense with future time markers.
1. ir + infinitive vs. Futuro Simples (Simple Future Tense):
| Feature | ir + infinitive | Futuro Simples (-ei, -ás, -á, etc.) |
| :------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Usage Context | Predominantly spoken, informal to semi-formal. | Primarily written, formal, literary, or journalistic. |
| Degree of Certainty | High certainty, definite plans, intentions. | Often implies less certainty, prediction about a distant future, or a formal statement. |
| Temporal Distance | Near future, immediate plans, any clear future event. | Often implies a more distant future, or a general prediction. |
| Tone/Register | Colloquial, natural, everyday speech. | Formal, elegant, sometimes archaic in casual speech. |
| Examples | Eu vou estudar. (I am going to study.) | Eu estudarei. (I shall/will study.) |
| | Vai chover. (It's going to rain.) | Choverá. (It will rain.) |
| | Nós vamos viajar em julho. (We're going to travel in July.) | Nós viajaremos em julho. (We shall travel in July.) |
While ir + infinitive conveys a sense of direct intention or imminent likelihood, the futuro simples can sound more detached or prophetic. For example, Ele vai ser um bom médico suggests a conviction based on present observation or knowledge, whereas Ele será um bom médico might sound like a more general prediction or aspiration, sometimes even implying less direct involvement or immediate certainty. In everyday conversation, using the futuro simples can sometimes sound overly formal or even pompous, similar to saying "one shall do this" instead of "one is going to do this" in English.
In European Portuguese, the futuro simples is somewhat more common in spoken language than in Brazilian Portuguese, but ir + infinitive still dominates for casual future expressions. For A1 learners, focusing almost exclusively on ir + infinitive will allow for effective and natural communication.
2. ir + infinitive vs. Present Tense with Future Time Markers:
It is also possible to express future events using the present tense, provided a time adverb or phrase clearly indicates futurity. This is common for scheduled events or very definite plans.
  • Present Tense: Amanhã eu trabalho. (Tomorrow I work / I am working tomorrow.)
  • ir + infinitive: Amanhã eu vou trabalhar. (Tomorrow I am going to work.)
Both are grammatically correct and convey a future meaning. The choice often comes down to emphasis: the present tense emphasizes the scheduled nature of the event, while ir + infinitive emphasizes the intention or plan. For beginners, ir + infinitive is often clearer and less ambiguous as a marker of the future.
The linguistic principle here is that context (the time marker amanhã) disambiguates the present tense to a future meaning. Without such a marker, Eu trabalho would simply mean "I work" habitually.

Real Conversations

To truly grasp ir + infinitive, observe how native speakers integrate it into their daily interactions, from quick messages to extended dialogues. Its ubiquity makes it a cornerstone of natural Portuguese communication about the future.

Texting/Messaging:

- Oi! Onde você vai almoçar? (Hi! Where are you going to have lunch?)

- Vou comer no restaurante novo. Quer vir? (I'm going to eat at the new restaurant. Want to come?)

- Não sei, tenho muito trabalho. Acho que vou pedir delivery. (I don't know, I have a lot of work. I think I'm going to order delivery.)

Casual Dialogue (Friends planning):

- Amigo 1: O que vocês vão fazer no fim de semana? (What are you guys going to do this weekend?)

- Amigo 2: Nós vamos para a praia se o tempo estiver bom. (We're going to the beach if the weather is good.)

- Amigo 3: Ah, que legal! Eu vou ficar em casa e descansar. (Oh, cool! I'm going to stay home and rest.)

Work Context (Colleagues discussing tasks):

- Quem vai apresentar o relatório na reunião? (Who is going to present the report in the meeting?)

- Eu vou. Já estou preparando os slides. (I am. I'm already preparing the slides.)

- Ótimo! Eu vou ajudar com a parte dos dados. (Great! I'm going to help with the data part.)

Social Media (Commenting on plans):

- Post: "Partiu São Paulo!" (Off to São Paulo!)

- Comment 1: Aproveitem! Onde vocês vão ficar? (Enjoy! Where are you going to stay?)

- Comment 2: Nós vamos visitar o Parque Ibirapuera! (We're going to visit Ibirapuera Park!)

Notice how the ir + infinitive structure seamlessly fits into questions, statements of intention, and even mild predictions, demonstrating its flexibility and conversational dominance. Its simplicity allows for quick and clear communication, making it ideal for the fast pace of modern digital and spoken exchanges. In these contexts, the futuro simples would sound unusually formal or even stiff.

Progressive Practice

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Effective learning of ir + infinitive requires consistent, varied practice. Move beyond rote memorization to active application in different scenarios.

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1. Sentence Building Drills:

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- Start by conjugating ir for all common subjects. Then, combine each with a variety of infinitive verbs. Focus on familiar actions first (e.g., comer, beber, dormir, trabalhar, estudar).

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- Eu vou [verb]. Você vai [verb]. Nós vamos [verb].

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- Gradually add objects and time expressions (e.g., amanhã, depois, no fim de semana, em breve).

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- Eu vou ler um livro amanhã. (I am going to read a book tomorrow.)

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- Ela vai cozinhar o jantar esta noite. (She is going to cook dinner tonight.)

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2. "What will you do?" Exercises:

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- Think about your actual daily, weekly, or monthly plans. Formulate them using ir + infinitive in Portuguese.

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- No sábado, eu vou limpar a casa. (On Saturday, I am going to clean the house.)

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- No próximo ano, eu vou viajar para Portugal. (Next year, I am going to travel to Portugal.)

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- Practice asking a friend or language partner about their plans using questions like O que você vai fazer...? or Para onde você vai...?.

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3. Listening and Identification:

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- Actively listen for ir + infinitive in Portuguese songs, podcasts, movies, or YouTube videos. Pay attention to how it sounds in natural speech.

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- Try to identify the subject, the form of ir, and the infinitive verb. This helps train your ear and reinforces the pattern.

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- For example, listen for phrases like vai ser, vamos ver, vou fazer.

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4. Speaking Practice:

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- Integrate ir + infinitive into your own conversations. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. The more you use it, the more natural it will feel.

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- Describe your immediate intentions out loud: Eu vou tomar um café. (I am going to drink a coffee.) Agora, eu vou abrir o livro. (Now, I am going to open the book.)

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5. Error Correction Focus:

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- Specifically target the common mistakes mentioned earlier. If you find yourself adding a after ir, consciously correct it every time. If you forget to conjugate ir, pause and recall the correct present tense form.

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- Ask native speakers or teachers to correct your ir + infinitive usage specifically.

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By engaging in these varied practice methods, you will solidify your understanding and develop the automaticity needed to use ir + infinitive confidently in any conversation about the future.

Quick FAQ

Q: Is ir + infinitive used in European Portuguese as much as in Brazilian Portuguese?

Yes, it is very common in spoken European Portuguese for expressing future plans and intentions, especially in informal contexts. However, the futuro simples might appear slightly more frequently in formal speech or written texts in Portugal compared to Brazil.

Q: Can I use this structure for distant future events, like something happening next year or in five years?

Absolutely. While it's often associated with the near future, ir + infinitive can be used for any future event, regardless of how far away it is, as long as it expresses a plan, intention, or prediction. For instance: Em 2030, eu vou morar em outro país. (In 2030, I am going to live in another country.)

Q: What if the main verb is reflexive? Where does the reflexive pronoun go?

The reflexive pronoun (e.g., me, te, se, nos, vos) can either precede the conjugated ir or attach to the end of the infinitive verb. Both are correct, though the latter is often preferred in Brazilian Portuguese for a smoother flow.

  • Eu me vou levantar cedo. OR Eu vou me levantar cedo. (I am going to get up early.)
  • Ele se vai vestir. OR Ele vai se vestir. (He is going to get dressed.)
Q: Do I need to worry about gender or number agreement for the infinitive verb?

No. The infinitive verb never changes. It always remains in its base form (e.g., falar, comer, partir), regardless of the gender or number of the subject. Only the auxiliary ir changes to agree with the subject.

Q: Is there any situation where ir + infinitive would be incorrect?

It's generally not incorrect, but in highly formal writing (like academic papers or legal documents), the futuro simples would be the preferred choice for stylistic reasons. Using ir + infinitive in such contexts might sound too colloquial or informal.

Q: Are there any verbs that cannot be used in the infinitive with ir?

No, this construction is extremely versatile. Any verb can be used in its infinitive form with ir to create a future expression.

Conjugation of 'Ir' (Present Tense)

Pronoun Conjugation English
Eu
vou
I go
Você/Ele/Ela
vai
You/He/She goes
Nós
vamos
We go
Vocês/Eles/Elas
vão
You all/They go

Meanings

This construction describes actions that are planned or about to happen in the near future.

1

Planned Future

Intentions or scheduled events.

“Eu vou estudar hoje.”

“Nós vamos jantar fora.”

2

Imminent Future

Something happening very soon.

“Cuidado, você vai cair!”

“O filme vai começar.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Future Tense: Using `ir + infinitive`
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Ir + Infinitive
Eu vou cantar.
Negative
Não + Ir + Infinitive
Eu não vou cantar.
Question
Ir + Subject + Infinitive?
Você vai cantar?
Reflexive
Ir + Infinitive + se
Ele vai se vestir.
Short Answer
Sim/Não + Ir
Sim, eu vou.
Imminent
Ir + Infinitive
Vai começar!

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Irei fazê-lo.

Irei fazê-lo. (General)

Neutral
Eu vou fazer isso.

Eu vou fazer isso. (General)

Informal
Vou fazer.

Vou fazer. (General)

Slang
Vou nessa.

Vou nessa. (General)

The Future Path

Vou

Actions

  • comer eat
  • dormir sleep

Time

  • hoje today
  • amanhã tomorrow
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Examples by Level

1

Eu vou estudar.

I am going to study.

2

Você vai trabalhar?

Are you going to work?

3

Nós vamos comer.

We are going to eat.

4

Eles vão viajar.

They are going to travel.

1

Eu não vou sair hoje.

I am not going to go out today.

2

O que você vai fazer?

What are you going to do?

3

Vai chover amanhã.

It is going to rain tomorrow.

4

Ela vai comprar um carro.

She is going to buy a car.

1

Vou me dedicar mais aos estudos.

I am going to dedicate myself more to studies.

2

Vamos nos encontrar no centro?

Are we going to meet in the center?

3

Eles vão se casar em breve.

They are going to get married soon.

4

Não vou deixar isso acontecer.

I am not going to let this happen.

1

Vou ter que resolver isso agora.

I am going to have to solve this now.

2

Eles vão acabar perdendo o trem.

They are going to end up missing the train.

3

Você vai se arrepender dessa decisão.

You are going to regret this decision.

4

Vamos precisar de mais tempo.

We are going to need more time.

1

Vou estar esperando por você na estação.

I will be waiting for you at the station.

2

Não creio que eles vão conseguir chegar a tempo.

I don't believe they are going to manage to arrive on time.

3

Vou fazer com que ele entenda a situação.

I am going to make him understand the situation.

4

Vamos ver o que o futuro nos reserva.

We are going to see what the future holds for us.

1

Vou acabar por aceitar a proposta, apesar de tudo.

I am going to end up accepting the proposal, despite everything.

2

Não é que eu vá desistir, mas vou repensar a estratégia.

It's not that I'm going to give up, but I'm going to rethink the strategy.

3

Vou-me embora antes que a situação piore.

I am going to leave before the situation worsens.

4

Vão ser dias difíceis, mas vamos superar.

They are going to be difficult days, but we are going to overcome them.

Easily Confused

Future Tense: Using `ir + infinitive` vs Futuro do Presente

Learners think they must use the synthetic future.

Future Tense: Using `ir + infinitive` vs Present Tense for Future

Portuguese uses present for near future too.

Future Tense: Using `ir + infinitive` vs Spanish 'Voy a'

Spanish uses 'a', Portuguese does not.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu vou falo

✓

Eu vou falar

Don't conjugate the second verb.
✗

Eu vai comer

✓

Eu vou comer

Wrong conjugation of 'ir'.
✗

Eu vou a comer

✓

Eu vou comer

Adding 'a' is a common Spanish interference.
✗

Vou comer amanhã

✓

Eu vou comer amanhã

Missing the subject pronoun.
✗

Não vou a fazer

✓

Não vou fazer

Unnecessary preposition.
✗

Você vai indo?

✓

Você vai?

Using gerund instead of infinitive.
✗

Vou estar indo

✓

Vou

Overusing the progressive form.
✗

Vou-me comer

✓

Vou comer

Misplacement of reflexive pronoun.
✗

Vou ter que vou

✓

Vou ter que ir

Redundant verb usage.
✗

Vou a ser

✓

Vou ser

Incorrect preposition usage.
✗

Vou ter de que fazer

✓

Vou ter de fazer

Incorrect preposition chain.
✗

Vou acabar por a fazer

✓

Vou acabar por fazer

Preposition error.
✗

Vou-me a ir

✓

Vou-me embora

Incorrect verb choice.

Sentence Patterns

Eu vou ___ amanhã.

Você vai ___ comigo?

Nós não vamos ___ hoje.

Eles vão ___ um novo projeto.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Vou chegar às 5.

Ordering food common

Vou querer uma pizza.

Job interview common

Vou me dedicar ao cargo.

Travel very common

Vou visitar o museu.

Social media common

Vou postar fotos!

Work email common

Vou enviar o relatório.

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💡

Keep it simple

Don't worry about the formal future tense yet. 'Ir + infinitive' is perfect for everything.
⚠️

No 'a'

If you speak Spanish, remember to drop the 'a'! It's 'vou comer', not 'vou a comer'.
🎯

Pronoun placement

In Brazil, pronouns usually go before the verb (Vou me vestir). In Portugal, they often go after (Vou vestir-me).
💬

Casual speech

In very casual Brazilian Portuguese, people sometimes say 'Vou tá' instead of 'Vou estar'.

Smart Tips

Use 'Vou' + infinitive to list your tasks.

Eu trabalho hoje. → Eu vou trabalhar hoje.

Use 'Vai' + infinitive for things you see happening.

Chove. → Vai chover.

Use 'Não vou' + infinitive.

Eu não saio. → Eu não vou sair.

Use 'Você vai' + infinitive.

Você sai? → Você vai sair?

Pronunciation

/voʊ/

Vou

The 'ou' sounds like 'oh' in English.

Question

Você vai comer? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Ir' as a rocket engine. You need the engine (Vou) to launch the action (Infinitive).

Visual Association

Imagine yourself walking (ir) toward a giant door labeled with an action (e.g., 'Eat'). As you walk, you say 'Vou' + 'Comer'.

Rhyme

Para o futuro eu vou, o verbo no infinitivo eu dou.

Story

Maria wakes up. She says 'Eu vou trabalhar'. She sees her friend and asks 'Você vai almoçar?'. They decide 'Nós vamos passear'.

Word Web

vouvaivamosvãoinfinitivefuturoplanejar

Challenge

Write down 3 things you are going to do tomorrow using this structure.

Cultural Notes

Very common in all regions. Often shortened to 'Vou' in casual speech.

Used similarly, but watch for pronoun placement.

Standard usage, very friendly.

Derived from the Latin 'eo' (to go) + infinitive.

Conversation Starters

“

O que você vai fazer no fim de semana?

“

Você vai viajar este ano?

“

O que você vai comer hoje?

“

Você vai estudar português amanhã?

Journal Prompts

List 5 things you are going to do tomorrow.
Describe your plans for your next vacation.
What are you going to change in your life this year?
Write a letter to your future self about your goals.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'ir'.

Eu ___ comer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vou
Eu takes 'vou'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou falar.
Infinitive is required.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós vai viajar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós vamos viajar.
Nós requires 'vamos'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou comer hoje.
Standard word order.
Conjugate 'ir' for 'Eles'. Conjugation Drill

Eles ___ sair.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vão
Eles takes 'vão'.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I am going to sleep.

Answer starts with: Eu ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou dormir.
Use infinitive.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você vai sair? B: Sim, eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vou
Matching the subject.
Match the subject to the verb. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vamos
Nós = vamos.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'ir'.

Eu ___ comer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vou
Eu takes 'vou'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou falar.
Infinitive is required.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós vai viajar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós vamos viajar.
Nós requires 'vamos'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

comer / eu / vou / hoje

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou comer hoje.
Standard word order.
Conjugate 'ir' for 'Eles'. Conjugation Drill

Eles ___ sair.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vão
Eles takes 'vão'.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I am going to sleep.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou dormir.
Use infinitive.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você vai sair? B: Sim, eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vou
Matching the subject.
Match the subject to the verb. Match Pairs

Nós -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vamos
Nós = vamos.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of `ir`. Fill in the Blank

Nós ___ assistir a um filme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vamos
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Você ___ me ligar mais tarde?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vai
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Eu ir fazer o jantar agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou fazer o jantar agora.
Which sentence is grammatically correct? Multiple Choice

Select the right way to say 'You (plural) are going to travel'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vocês vão viajar.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

ler / ele / um / vai / livro

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele vai ler um livro.
Translate the following sentence to Portuguese: Translation

She is going to write an email.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela vai escrever um email.
Match the subject pronoun to the correct form of `ir`. Match Pairs

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Fill in the blank with the infinitive verb. Fill in the Blank

Eu vou ___ (to drink) um café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: beber
Find and fix the mistake. Error Correction

Tu vai sair hoje? (European Portuguese context)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu vais sair hoje?
Choose the correct option. Multiple Choice

How would you say 'We (informal, Brazil) are going to talk'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A gente vai conversar.
Put the words in the correct order to form a question. Sentence Reorder

fazer / o / que / você / vai / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O que você vai fazer?
Translate 'I am going to call my mother' to Portuguese. Translation

I am going to call my mother.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vou ligar para minha mãe.

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, it works for any future time, just add a time marker like 'ano que vem'.

No, it is neutral and very common in daily life.

No, always keep it in the infinitive.

This is likely Spanish interference; it is not standard in Portuguese.

Yes, like 'Vai chover' (It's going to rain).

The structure is the same, but pronoun placement can differ.

Use 'ir + infinitive' for plans; the synthetic future is for formal writing.

Put 'não' before 'vou'.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

4

Mastery Progress

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Improving

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Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Voy a + infinitive

Portuguese omits the 'a'.

French high

Aller + infinitive

No preposition used in either.

German low

Werden + infinitive

German uses a different auxiliary verb.

Japanese low

Verb + tsumori

Japanese structure is entirely different.

Arabic low

Sa- + verb

Arabic uses a prefix, not a separate verb.

Chinese moderate

Yào + verb

Chinese does not conjugate the verb.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
How Often? (Always, Sometimes, Never)
Next
Talking About the Future (Ir + Infinitive)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

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