Portuguese Simple Future: Regular -er & -ir Verbs
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To form the future for -er/-ir verbs, keep the full infinitive and add the endings: -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -eis, -ão.
- Keep the full infinitive: 'comer' becomes 'comer-'
- Add the endings: eu comerei, tu comerás, ele comerá
- Plural forms: nós comeremos, vós comereis, eles comerão
Overview
The Portuguese Simple Future, formally known as Futuro do Presente, is a fundamental tense for expressing actions, states, or events projected to occur after the present moment. For regular verbs ending in -er and -ir, its formation is exceptionally consistent, making it one of the more straightforward tenses for learners at the A2 CEFR level. This regularity stems from a historical linguistic development that unified its structure across all verb conjugations.
This tense primarily conveys a high degree of certainty, a sense of obligation, or a formal prediction. It stands in contrast to the more colloquial futuro próximo (immediate future), which is formed using ir + infinitive and denotes casual plans or intentions. Mastering the Futuro do Presente allows you to articulate definitive plans, make authoritative forecasts, and engage with formal written Portuguese, adding precision and polish to your communication.
For instance, you will learn to express Eu comerei (I will eat) or Ele partirá (He will leave) with confidence, signifying a definite future action rather than a casual intention.
Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Regular -er (e.g., comer – to eat) |
Regular -ir (e.g., abrir – to open) |
Translation (comer) | Translation (abrir) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :---------------- | :----------------------------------- | :---------------------------------- | :--------------------- | :--------------------- | ||
eu |
comerei |
abrirei |
I will eat | I will open | ||
você/ele/ela |
comerá |
abrirá |
You/he/she will eat | You/he/she will open | ||
nós |
comeremos |
abriremos |
We will eat | We will open | ||
vocês/eles/elas |
comerão |
abrirão |
You all/they will eat | You all/they will open |
How This Grammar Works
com- from comer for the present tense), the Simple Future utilizes the entire, unmodified infinitive of the verb as its conjugation base. For example, verbs such as vender (to sell), escrever (to write), sentir (to feel), and existir (to exist) retain their complete forms before any endings are applied.-r is paramount to maintaining this structure and avoiding common errors.beber (to drink) becomes eu beberei, você beberá, nós beberemos, and eles beberão, with the -er always present.-ar, -er, -ir) stems from Vulgar Latin. The Simple Future evolved from a construction where the infinitive of the main verb was combined with conjugated forms of habere (Latin for 'to have'). Over time, these two words fused, with the conjugated habere forms morphing into the standard future endings we see today.-ei, -á, -emos, -ão), you can apply them universally to all regular verbs. Consequently, partir (to leave) follows the exact same pattern as comer, resulting in eu partirei, você partirá, nós partiremos, and eles partirão.Formation Pattern
-er and -ir, is a systematic process. Adhering to these precise steps ensures accurate conjugation.
-ar, -er, or -ir. It is crucial not to remove the final -r or the preceding vowel (e.g., -er or -ir).
-er verbs: aprender (to learn), receber (to receive), responder (to answer).
-ir verbs: dividir (to divide), permitir (to permit), decidir (to decide).
aprender – to learn) | Example (-ir: decidir – to decide) |
-ei | eu | aprenderei | decidirei |
-á | você/ele/ela | aprenderá | decidirá |
-emos| nós | aprenderemos | decidiremos |
-ão | vocês/eles/elas | aprenderão | decidirão |
aprender, decidir) remains intact within the conjugated future form. This consistent stem, combined with the predictable endings, forms the core of the Simple Future's regularity. The accent marks on -á and -ão are orthographically critical for indicating correct stress and distinguishing the future tense from other verb forms.
When To Use It
Futuro do Presente) is strategically employed in several distinct communicative contexts, primarily signifying certainty, formality, and predictions. Understanding these specific applications is essential for its correct and effective use.- Definite Future Actions and Events: Use this tense to express actions or events that are projected to happen with a high degree of certainty or as part of a firm plan. It implies a definite outcome or an inevitable occurrence.
O evento ocorrerá no próximo sábado, como planejado.(The event will occur next Saturday, as planned.)Eles perceberão a verdade eventualmente.(They will perceive the truth eventually.)
- Promises and Commitments: This tense carries a strong sense of commitment, obligation, or solemn declaration, making it the appropriate choice for vows, pledges, formal agreements, or serious assurances. The inherent formality of the tense reinforces the gravity of the statement.
Eu te amarei para sempre, aconteça o que acontecer.(I will love you forever, no matter what happens.)Nós cumpriremos com todas as cláusulas do contrato.(We will comply with all clauses of the contract.)
- Predictions and Forecasts: When making formal predictions or stating forecasts, particularly in written contexts such as scientific reports, economic analyses, or meteorological bulletins, the Simple Future is the standard. It lends authority and objectivity to the statement.
O relatório econômico preverá um aumento na taxa de juros.(The economic report will predict an increase in interest rates.)Segundo os modelos, choverá durante todo o fim de semana.(According to the models, it will rain all weekend.)
- Formal and Written Contexts: The
Futuro do Presenteis significantly more prevalent in formal registers of both written and spoken Portuguese. This includes academic papers, official documents, journalistic articles, literary works, and professional correspondence. Its use conveys a sophisticated and polished tone. While still used in spoken European Portuguese, its frequency in casual spoken Brazilian Portuguese is considerably lower, often replaced by thefuturo próximo. - Example in a formal email:
Aguardamos ansiosamente, e responderemos em breve.(We await eagerly, and will respond shortly.) - Example in European Portuguese spoken context:
Quando abrires o livro, encontrarás a resposta.(When you open the book, you will find the answer.)
- Hypothetical Situations or Speculation: Occasionally, this tense can be used to speculate about future possibilities or express a rhetorical question about what might happen, sometimes implying a condition without explicitly stating it.
Onde viveremos daqui a dez anos?(Where will we live ten years from now?) – A speculative question about the future.Quem receberá o prêmio este ano?(Who will receive the prize this year?) – A question about a future outcome.
ir + infinitive construction is the standard (Eu vou beber um café. vs. Eu beberei um café.). Reserve the Simple Future for contexts demanding greater formality, definitiveness, or a more distant future perspective.Common Mistakes
- Dropping the Infinitive's
-r: This is arguably the most common and persistent error. Learners, accustomed to removing the-ar,-er, or-irendings to find the verb stem for other tenses, mistakenly apply this rule to the Simple Future. However, the integrity of the full infinitive is non-negotiable in this tense. - Incorrect:
Eu comirei(fromcomer),Ele aprendirá(fromaprender),Nós dividiremos(fromdividir). These forms are grammatically incorrect and can be confused with other tenses (e.g.,comiis the past tense 'I ate'). - Correct:
Eu comerei(I will eat),Ele aprenderá(He will learn),Nós dividiremos(We will divide). - The
-rat the end of the infinitive must always be preserved as part of the future stem for all regular verbs.
- Omitting or Misplacing Accent Marks: The acute accent (
´) on thevocê/ele/elaform's-áand the tilde (~) on thevocês/eles/elasform's-ãoare not optional. Their omission can lead to mispronunciation, grammatical incorrectness, or even change the tense or meaning of the word. - Incorrect:
Ele comera(Without the accent, this is thepretérito mais-que-perfeito, meaning
Conjugation of -er and -ir Verbs
| Pronoun | Ending | Comer (to eat) | Partir (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
-ei
|
Comerei
|
Partirei
|
|
Tu
|
-ás
|
Comerás
|
Partirás
|
|
Ele/Ela/Você
|
-á
|
Comerá
|
Partirá
|
|
Nós
|
-emos
|
Comeremos
|
Partiremos
|
|
Vós
|
-eis
|
Comereis
|
Partireis
|
|
Eles/Elas/Vocês
|
-ão
|
Comerão
|
Partirão
|
Meanings
Used to express actions that will happen in the future or to make predictions.
Future Prediction
Events expected to occur.
“Eu partirei cedo.”
“Nós escreveremos o relatório.”
Formal Promise
Committing to an action.
“Eu prometerei fidelidade.”
“Nós resolveremos o problema.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Infinitive + Ending
|
Eu comerei
|
|
Negative
|
Não + Infinitive + Ending
|
Eu não comerei
|
|
Question
|
Infinitive + Ending + Subject?
|
Comerás tu?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Sim/Não + Verb
|
Sim, comerei
|
|
Plural
|
Infinitive + Ending
|
Nós comeremos
|
|
Formal
|
Infinitive + Ending
|
Você partirá
|
Formality Spectrum
Eu comerei. (Dining)
Vou comer. (Dining)
Vou comer. (Dining)
Vou mandar ver. (Dining)
Future Tense Construction
Endings
- -ei I
- -ás You
- -á He/She
Examples by Level
Eu comerei pão.
I will eat bread.
Tu partirás cedo.
You will leave early.
Nós viveremos aqui.
We will live here.
Eles escreverão um livro.
They will write a book.
Você receberá a carta amanhã.
You will receive the letter tomorrow.
Nós não beberemos álcool.
We will not drink alcohol.
Ela assistirá ao filme.
She will watch the movie.
Eles venderão a casa.
They will sell the house.
O governo resolverá a crise.
The government will resolve the crisis.
Eu esquecerei este momento.
I will forget this moment.
Nós correremos na maratona.
We will run in the marathon.
Tu entenderás a lição.
You will understand the lesson.
A empresa oferecerá um bônus.
The company will offer a bonus.
Eles descreverão o ocorrido.
They will describe what happened.
Nós permitiremos a entrada.
We will allow entry.
Ela subirá ao palco.
She will go up on stage.
Quem viver, verá.
He who lives, will see.
A lei proíbe, mas nós recorreremos.
The law forbids it, but we will appeal.
Ele converterá os arquivos.
He will convert the files.
Nós interromperemos a transmissão.
We will interrupt the broadcast.
A história julgará nossas ações.
History will judge our actions.
Ele incorrerá em erro grave.
He will incur a serious error.
Nós prescindiremos de ajuda.
We will dispense with help.
Eles auferirão lucros imensos.
They will reap immense profits.
Easily Confused
Learners don't know when to use 'vou comer' vs 'comerei'.
Ending -ão (future) vs -am (past).
Ending -ia vs -ei.
Common Mistakes
Eu comoei
Eu comerei
Eu vou comerei
Eu comerei
Eu comerei-ei
Eu comerei
Eu comerá
Eu comerei
Nós partiremos
Nós partiremos
Eles comeram
Eles comerão
Tu comerá
Tu comerás
Eu terei comerei
Eu terei comido
Se eu comerei
Se eu comer
Ele partirá-se
Ele partir-se-á
Eu diria que ele comerá
Eu diria que ele comerá (context dependent)
Talvez ele comerá
Talvez ele coma
Quando ele comerá
Quando ele comer
Espero que ele comerá
Espero que ele coma
Sentence Patterns
Eu ___ (verb) amanhã.
Nós ___ (verb) o relatório.
Eles ___ (verb) a casa.
Tu ___ (verb) cedo?
Real World Usage
Eu resolverei os problemas da empresa.
Te ligarei mais tarde.
O governo anunciará novas medidas.
O trem partirá às 10h.
Você receberá seu pedido em breve.
Eu postarei fotos amanhã!
Keep the Infinitive
Don't Overuse
Focus on the Endings
Regional Differences
Smart Tips
Use the simple future to sound professional.
Recognize the -ão ending as future.
Use this tense more freely.
Use the simple future for emphasis.
Pronunciation
Stress
The stress is always on the final syllable of the ending.
Rising
Comerás? ↑
Questioning
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'EI-AS-A-EMOS-EIS-AO' like a rhythmic chant.
Visual Association
Imagine a train (the infinitive) pulling a carriage of passengers (the endings).
Rhyme
Para o futuro, não corte o final, apenas adicione o sufixo, é natural!
Story
Imagine you are a king. You declare: 'Eu comerei o banquete, tu partirás para a guerra, ele vencerá a batalha.' Everything is certain and formal.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your plans for next year using this tense.
Cultural Notes
The simple future is often replaced by 'ir + infinitive' in speech.
The simple future is used more frequently in daily speech than in Brazil.
Used in all regions for contracts and official statements.
Derived from the Latin infinitive + the verb 'habere' (to have).
Conversation Starters
O que você fará amanhã?
Você escreverá um livro?
Quando você partirá de férias?
Você receberá visitas?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu ___ (comer) amanhã.
Nós ___ (partir) cedo.
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu comoei o bolo.
Eu como pão. -> Eu ___ pão.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Eles ___ (viver).
amanhã / eu / partir / cedo
A: Você comerá? B: Sim, ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu ___ (comer) amanhã.
Nós ___ (partir) cedo.
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu comoei o bolo.
Eu como pão. -> Eu ___ pão.
Eu -> ?
Eles ___ (viver).
amanhã / eu / partir / cedo
A: Você comerá? B: Sim, ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesEla ___ o e-mail mais tarde.
Eles dividiram a conta amanhã.
Translate: 'We will write the report.'
Amanhã você ___ o presente.
viajaremos / Nós / para / amanhã / Lisboa
Match the pairs:
Vocês ___ ao filme no cinema?
Select the correct formal promise:
Tu partirás amanhã?
They will eat at the restaurant.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No! Keep the full infinitive.
Yes, but mostly in writing.
Some verbs have irregular stems, but regular -er/-ir verbs are consistent.
Technically yes, but 'vou + infinitive' is better for plans.
It marks the future tense plural.
Yes, it is considered formal.
Just add 'não' before the verb.
Yes, they follow the same pattern.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Futuro simple
Portuguese endings are slightly different.
Futur simple
French often changes the stem.
Futur I
Portuguese is synthetic; German is analytic.
Non-past
Portuguese has a dedicated future tense.
Sa- prefix
Portuguese uses a suffix.
Yào / Huì
Portuguese conjugates the verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Portuguese -ER Verbs: The Present Tense (comer, beber)
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Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding)
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