A2 Future & Conditional 8 min read Easy

Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -ar Verbs (Future do Presente)

Glue future endings directly to the full verb to sound formal, professional, and certain about future events.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The Future do Presente expresses actions that will happen; simply add the ending to the full infinitive verb.

  • Keep the full infinitive (e.g., falar).
  • Add the endings: -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -eis, -ão.
  • Example: Eu falarei (I will speak).
Infinitive + Ending = Future Action

Overview

The Portuguese Simple Future tense, known as the Futuro do Presente, expresses actions that will definitively occur. Unlike its English equivalent using 'will', in Portuguese, this future marker is affixed directly to the verb. This tense conveys a sense of certainty, formality, or a definitive prediction.

It is particularly prevalent in written language—such as news articles, formal documents, and literature—and in more formal spoken contexts, especially in European Portuguese. While ir + infinitive (futuro próximo) serves as the everyday future expression, the Futuro do Presente offers a more elegant and conclusive tone. This article focuses specifically on the conjugation and usage of regular verbs ending in -ar, such as falar (to speak), estudar (to study), and viajar (to travel), which form the foundational pattern for this tense.

Understanding this tense allows you to articulate future events with precision and formality, distinguishing your communication from more casual expressions.

Conjugation Table

Person Ending Example Translation
:----------------- :--------- :------------ :--------------------
Eu -ei estudarei I will study
Tu -ás estudarás You will study (inf.)
Ele/Ela/Você -á estudará He/She/You will study
Nós -emos estudaremos We will study
Eles/Elas/Vocês -ão estudarão They/You all will study

How This Grammar Works

The formation of the Portuguese Futuro do Presente is unique because it generally preserves the entire infinitive of the verb before attaching the future endings. This differs significantly from many other Portuguese tenses where the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir) is first removed. The historical development of this tense provides insight into its structure.
It originated from a periphrastic construction in Vulgar Latin, where the infinitive was followed by a conjugated form of haver (to have). For instance, an expression like cantar hei (I have to sing, or literally 'to sing I have') evolved over centuries through linguistic compression. The auxiliary verb haver eventually fused with the main verb, its conjugated forms transforming into the modern future endings.
Thus, cantar hei became cantarei, cantarás became cantarás, and so forth. This historical fusion explains why the infinitive remains intact: it was originally a separate word (cantar) followed by the auxiliary (hei). This process of grammaticalization transformed a two-word phrase into a single, inflected verb form.
This inherent structure makes the Simple Future one of the more regular and predictable tenses once the base concept is grasped, as the stem (the full infinitive) does not undergo changes for regular verbs.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the Simple Future tense for regular -ar verbs involves a straightforward, two-step process. This consistency makes it accessible for learners at the A2 level, providing a reliable grammatical tool for future expressions.
2
To conjugate any regular -ar verb in the Simple Future, follow these steps:
3
Identify the full infinitive verb: Begin with the complete, uninflected form of the verb. For example: falar (to speak), trabalhar (to work), comprar (to buy), pensar (to think).
4
Append the appropriate future ending: Attach the specific ending that corresponds to the subject pronoun directly to the end of the infinitive. Do not remove the -ar ending of the infinitive.
5
Let's illustrate with trabalhar (to work):
6
Eu trabalharei (I will work)
7
Tu trabalharás (You will work)
8
Você trabalhará (You will work)
9
Nós trabalharemos (We will work)
10
Eles trabalharão (They will work)
11
This pattern holds true for all regular -ar verbs, requiring only the memorization of the five distinct future endings. The consistent structure minimizes irregular forms within this category, simplifying the conjugation process considerably.

When To Use It

The Futuro do Presente for regular -ar verbs is employed in contexts demanding formality, certainty, or when making definitive statements about future occurrences. Its usage signals a commitment or a strong prediction.
  • Formal Communication: In written documents, official announcements, news reports, and formal speeches, the Simple Future lends an authoritative tone. For instance, O presidente anunciará novas medidas económicas. (The president will announce new economic measures.) An email to a client stating Nós enviaremos a proposta amanhã. (We will send the proposal tomorrow.) uses this tense to convey a professional commitment.
  • Predictions and Prognostications: When forecasting events, weather, or future outcomes, especially without the immediate intention implied by ir + infinitive, the Simple Future is appropriate. Amanhã choverá na região sul. (Tomorrow it will rain in the southern region.) or Em breve, descobriremos a verdade. (Soon, we will discover the truth.)
  • Solemn Promises and Declarations: For statements of unwavering intent or guarantees, this tense provides emphasis. Juro que te amarei para sempre. (I swear I will love you forever.) or Você terá meu apoio incondicional. (You will have my unconditional support.)
  • Conditional Clauses (Main Clause): Often, the Simple Future appears in the main clause of conditional sentences, particularly when the condition is expressed using the futuro do subjuntivo (future subjunctive) or presente do subjuntivo. For example, Se eu viajar para o Brasil, visitarei o Rio. (If I travel to Brazil, I will visit Rio.) Here, viajar is in the future subjunctive, and visitarei is in the Simple Future.
  • Literary Contexts: In literature, it enhances narrative flow and provides a sense of destiny or foretelling. Ele nunca esquecerá aquele dia. (He will never forget that day.)
While this tense conveys certainty, its frequency in informal spoken Brazilian Portuguese is lower compared to European Portuguese, where it is still quite common. In Brazil, its spoken use often carries a highly formal or even archaic nuance, especially in casual conversation. Therefore, judicious application is key to sounding natural.

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter specific pitfalls when employing the Portuguese Simple Future. Awareness of these common errors and their underlying reasons facilitates accurate and idiomatic usage.
  • Omitting Accent Marks: This is arguably the most frequent error. The accent marks (e.g., á, ás, ão, ei) are not merely decorative; they indicate stress and are crucial for distinguishing the Simple Future from other verb forms. For instance, ele falará (he will speak) is distinct from ele fala (he speaks, present tense) and ele falava (he used to speak, imperfect). Without the accent, falara is the mais-que-perfeito (pluperfect), meaning 'he had spoken'. Correct accentuation (falará) is essential for clarity.
  • Removing the -ar Ending: Learners accustomed to other conjugation patterns (which often require removing -ar, -er, or -ir before adding new endings) mistakenly apply this rule to the Simple Future. This leads to incorrect forms like falerei instead of falarei (from falar). Remember, the entire infinitive is preserved as the stem for regular verbs.
  • Confusing with the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (Simple Past): The eu form of the Simple Future (-ei) can be easily confused with the eu form of the Simple Past for -ar verbs (-ei). For example, falei (I spoke) is the past tense, while falarei (I will speak) is the future. The crucial distinction lies in the retained infinitive (falar-) plus the future ending (-ei). This small difference is vital for conveying the correct timeline.
  • Incorrect Nós Form: Some learners might incorrectly conjugate nós as estudamos (present tense) instead of estudaremos. The nós form estudaremos is the only one without an accent mark among the future conjugations, making it unique but consistent with the infinitive + -emos rule.
  • Overuse in Informal Speech (Brazilian Portuguese): In casual spoken Brazilian Portuguese, using the Futuro do Presente excessively can sound overly formal, unnatural, or even theatrical. While grammatically correct, Eu viajarei amanhã. (I will travel tomorrow.) would typically be expressed as Eu vou viajar amanhã. or Eu viajo amanhã. in informal conversation. Reserve the Simple Future for situations that genuinely warrant its formal tone in this dialect.
By carefully observing the accentuation, maintaining the full infinitive, and understanding the appropriate contexts, you can avoid these common errors and master the Simple Future tense.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To truly grasp the nuance of the Portuguese Simple Future, it is vital to contrast it with other grammatical structures that also express future actions or related concepts. Each conveys a distinct level of formality, certainty, or temporal proximity.

Ir + Infinitive (Immediate Future / Futuro Próximo): This is the most common and informal way to express future actions in everyday Portuguese, both in Brazil and Portugal. It implies intention or a near-future event. Eu vou viajar. (I am going to travel.) or Nós vamos comprar comida. (We are going to buy food.) This construction is equivalent to

Conjugation of 'Falar' (To Speak)

Pronoun Ending Verb Form
Eu
-ei
falarei
Tu
-ás
falarás
Você/Ele/Ela
-á
falará
Nós
-emos
falaremos
Vós
-eis
falareis
Vocês/Eles/Elas
-ão
falarão

Meanings

Used to describe actions that are certain to occur in the future or to express predictions.

1

Certainty

Actions that will definitely happen.

“Eu trabalharei amanhã.”

“Nós falaremos com ele.”

2

Prediction

Speculating about future events.

“O sol brilhará forte.”

“A equipe ganhará o jogo.”

3

Polite Request

Softening a command.

“Você me ajudará com isso?”

“Você assinará este documento?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -ar Verbs (Future do Presente)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Infinitive + Ending
Eu falarei
Negative
Não + Infinitive + Ending
Eu não falarei
Question
Infinitive + Ending + ?
Você falará?
Short Answer (Yes)
Sim, [Pronoun] [Verb]
Sim, eu falarei
Short Answer (No)
Não, [Pronoun] não [Verb]
Não, eu não falarei

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu falarei com o diretor.

Eu falarei com o diretor. (Work)

Neutral
Eu vou falar com o diretor.

Eu vou falar com o diretor. (Work)

Informal
Vou falar com o diretor.

Vou falar com o diretor. (Work)

Slang
Vou trocar uma ideia com o chefe.

Vou trocar uma ideia com o chefe. (Work)

Future do Presente Structure

Infinitive

Endings

  • -ei I
  • -ás You (inf)
  • -á He/She/You
  • -emos We
  • -eis You (pl)
  • -ão They
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Examples by Level

1

Eu falarei com você.

I will speak with you.

2

Nós estudaremos amanhã.

We will study tomorrow.

3

Você trabalhará hoje?

Will you work today?

4

Eles cantarão uma música.

They will sing a song.

1

Eu não mudarei de ideia.

I will not change my mind.

2

Você me ajudará com a mala?

Will you help me with the suitcase?

3

Nós visitaremos o museu.

We will visit the museum.

4

Ela chegará às dez horas.

She will arrive at ten o'clock.

1

O projeto terminará na sexta-feira.

The project will end on Friday.

2

Eles aceitarão a proposta?

Will they accept the proposal?

3

Eu esperarei por você no aeroporto.

I will wait for you at the airport.

4

Nós organizaremos a festa juntos.

We will organize the party together.

1

A empresa investirá em novas tecnologias.

The company will invest in new technologies.

2

Você assinará o contrato amanhã?

Will you sign the contract tomorrow?

3

Eles demonstrarão os resultados na reunião.

They will demonstrate the results at the meeting.

4

Eu não tolerarei esse comportamento.

I will not tolerate this behavior.

1

Será que ele chegará a tempo?

I wonder if he will arrive on time?

2

A medida beneficiará todos os cidadãos.

The measure will benefit all citizens.

3

Nós não subestimaremos os riscos.

We will not underestimate the risks.

4

O autor publicará sua obra em breve.

The author will publish his work soon.

1

A história julgará nossas ações.

History will judge our actions.

2

Ele não hesitará em tomar medidas drásticas.

He will not hesitate to take drastic measures.

3

A ciência desvendará novos mistérios.

Science will unveil new mysteries.

4

Nós não abdicaremos de nossos direitos.

We will not abdicate our rights.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -ar Verbs (Future do Presente) vs Futuro do Presente vs. Futuro do Pretérito

They sound similar but have different meanings (will vs. would).

Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -ar Verbs (Future do Presente) vs Futuro do Presente vs. Presente

Learners often use the present tense for future events.

Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -ar Verbs (Future do Presente) vs Futuro do Presente vs. Futuro Próximo

Both express the future.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu falarei -> Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Correct, but watch for spelling.
✗

Eu vou falar -> Eu falarei

✓

Both are correct, but use the latter for formality.

Don't mix them.
✗

Eu falarei -> Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Check accents.
✗

Eu falarei -> Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Check accents.
✗

Nós falaramos

✓

Nós falaremos

Confusing present with future.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Accents.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Accents.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.
✗

Eu falarei

✓

Eu falarei

Register.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ (infinitive) amanhã.

Você ___ (infinitive) comigo?

Nós não ___ (infinitive) esse erro.

Eles ___ (infinitive) a decisão final.

Real World Usage

Job Interview common

Eu trabalharei com dedicação.

Texting occasional

Chegarei às 8.

News Report constant

O governo anunciará novas medidas.

Travel Booking common

Eu confirmarei a reserva.

Social Media occasional

O Brasil ganhará!

Legal Document constant

As partes assinarão o contrato.

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💡

Keep the Infinitive

Don't remove the -ar! Just add the ending to the full word.
⚠️

Watch the Accents

Accents on 'ás', 'á', and 'ão' are not optional.
🎯

Formal Tone

Use this tense to sound more professional and certain.
💬

Regional Differences

Brazilians use it less in speech than in writing; keep it for formal contexts.

Smart Tips

Use the synthetic future to sound professional.

Eu vou enviar o arquivo. → Eu enviarei o arquivo.

Use the synthetic future for certainty.

Vai chover. → Choverá amanhã.

Stick to 'ir + infinitive' to sound natural.

Eu falarei com você. → Eu vou falar com você.

Always check for the accent on -ão.

Eles falaram. → Eles falarão.

Pronunciation

fa-la-RÁS

Accents

The accents on 'ás', 'á', and 'ão' indicate stress.

Question

Você falará? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the endings as a 'Future Train': Ei, As, A, Emos, Eis, A-o! (The train is leaving for the future!)

Visual Association

Imagine yourself standing on a train platform. Every time you add an ending, you are boarding a new carriage of the 'Future Train'.

Rhyme

Para o futuro chegar, o verbo inteiro você vai usar, e no final, a terminação vai adicionar.

Story

Maria is planning her future. She says, 'Eu estudarei (I will study) hard. Eu trabalharei (I will work) well. Eu viajarei (I will travel) far.' She uses the full verb every time to keep her plans strong.

Word Web

falareiestudareitrabalhareicantareiajudareichegareimudareivisitarei

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about what you will do tomorrow using 5 different -ar verbs.

Cultural Notes

The synthetic future is often replaced by 'ir + infinitive' in daily speech.

The synthetic future is used more frequently in daily speech than in Brazil.

In both countries, the synthetic future is standard in formal documents.

The Portuguese future tense evolved from the Latin infinitive + the verb 'habere' (to have).

Conversation Starters

“

O que você fará no próximo fim de semana?

“

Você estudará português amanhã?

“

Como você imagina que a tecnologia mudará o mundo?

“

Você assinará o contrato se a oferta for boa?

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre seus planos para o próximo ano.
Como você acha que será sua vida em 10 anos?
Descreva um projeto que você terminará em breve.
Quais mudanças você implementará no seu trabalho?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate 'estudar' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: estudarei
Eu + -ei = estudarei.
Which is the correct form for 'Nós'? Multiple Choice

Nós ___ (falar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: falaremos
Nós + -emos = falaremos.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu falararei.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu falarei
Don't double the 'ra'.
Change to future. Sentence Transformation

Eu falo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu falarei
Future of falar is falarei.
Is this true? True False Rule

Do you remove -ar before adding endings?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
You keep the full infinitive.
Complete the response. Dialogue Completion

Você trabalhará? - Sim, eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: trabalharei
Eu + -ei = trabalharei.
Order the words. Sentence Building

amanhã / falarei / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All are correct
Portuguese word order is flexible.
Conjugate 'cantar' for 'Eles'. Conjugation Drill

Eles ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cantarão
Eles + -ão = cantarão.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate 'estudar' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: estudarei
Eu + -ei = estudarei.
Which is the correct form for 'Nós'? Multiple Choice

Nós ___ (falar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: falaremos
Nós + -emos = falaremos.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu falararei.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu falarei
Don't double the 'ra'.
Change to future. Sentence Transformation

Eu falo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu falarei
Future of falar is falarei.
Is this true? True False Rule

Do you remove -ar before adding endings?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
You keep the full infinitive.
Complete the response. Dialogue Completion

Você trabalhará? - Sim, eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: trabalharei
Eu + -ei = trabalharei.
Order the words. Sentence Building

amanhã / falarei / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All are correct
Portuguese word order is flexible.
Conjugate 'cantar' for 'Eles'. Conjugation Drill

Eles ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cantarão
Eles + -ão = cantarão.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete with 'ajudar' (Nós) Fill in the Blank

Nós ___ você com as malas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ajudaremos
Translate to Portuguese: 'They will travel.' Translation

They will travel.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles viajarão.
Reorder the words to make a future sentence Sentence Reorder

comprarão / Eles / pão / o

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles comprarão o pão.
Match the pronoun to the correct future ending Match Pairs

Match them:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu -> -ei
Fix the verb: 'Você viajaram amanhã?' Error Correction

Você viajaram amanhã?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você viajará amanhã?
Select the formal version of 'I'm going to talk to her' Multiple Choice

Formal future:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Falarei com ela.
Future of 'postar' (Tu - Informal) Fill in the Blank

Tu ___ o vídeo no TikTok?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: postarás
Which one sounds like a weather report? Multiple Choice

The forecast says:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nevará nas montanhas.
Translate: 'We will study.' Translation

We will study.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Estudaremos.
Correct the ending for 'They' Error Correction

Eles viajaram amanhã de manhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles viajarão amanhã de manhã.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, keep the full infinitive.

Yes, it is more formal than 'ir + infinitive'.

They have different stems, but the endings are the same.

Yes, but it sounds more formal.

It marks the stress.

No, conditional ends in -ia.

Yes, it's perfect for that.

Yes, especially in writing.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

hablaré

The endings are very similar but have slight spelling differences.

French high

je parlerai

French pronunciation is very different.

German low

ich werde sprechen

German is analytic, Portuguese is synthetic.

Japanese none

hanasu (present/future)

Japanese does not conjugate for future tense.

Arabic low

sa-atakallam

Arabic uses prefixes, Portuguese uses suffixes.

Chinese none

wǒ huì shuō

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Portuguese Past Tense: When to use 'podia' (Imperfect)
Next
Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -er & -ir Verbs

Learn These First

A1 Requires

Present Tense: Regular -AR Verbs (falar, trabalhar)

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Irregular Future: Fazer (To do -> I will do)

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The Conditional Tense: Politeness & Hypotheticals (-ia)

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B2 Requires

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