A2 Tense & Aspect 7 min read Leicht

Predictions

Predict the future by combining the auxiliary 'voi/vei/va...' with the main verb's dictionary form without 'a'.
Als gelernt markieren
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make a prediction in Romanian, use the auxiliary verb 'a vrea' (to want) + the infinitive of your main verb.

  • Use 'voi' + infinitive for 'I will' (e.g., 'Voi merge' - I will go).
  • Use 'nu' before the auxiliary for negatives (e.g., 'Nu voi merge' - I will not go).
  • In questions, keep the same order (e.g., 'Vei merge?' - Will you go?).
Subject + (voi/vei/va/vom/veți/vor) + Verb(infinitive)

Overview

Ever wanted to be a fortune teller in Bucharest? Or maybe you just want to tell your boss you will finish that report by Friday? Predicting the future in Romanian is your ticket to doing just that.
In Romanian, we use the standard future tense, called Viitorul I, to talk about what lies ahead. It is the language of weather forecasts, horoscopes, and promises. You will find it in newspapers, books, and formal speeches.
It sounds a bit more polished than the casual future you hear on the street. Think of it as the suit and tie of future tenses. It is reliable, clear, and very easy to build.
You do not need to memorize complex endings for every verb. Instead, you use a helpful little auxiliary verb. This makes it one of the most learner-friendly parts of Romanian grammar.
Whether you are planning a trip to the mountains or guessing the next lottery numbers, this is the tool you need. Let's dive in and see how you can start looking into the Romanian future.

How This Grammar Works

Predictions are all about looking forward from the present moment. In Romanian, the standard future tense works like a two-part puzzle. You have a helper verb (the auxiliary) and the main action (the infinitive).
The helper verb comes from an old version of the verb a vrea, which means to want. This makes sense, right? If you want to do something, it is likely to happen in the future. However, in this tense, these helpers have lost their meaning of wanting. They now just signal that the action is coming later.
It is like a grammar traffic light turning green for the future. You do not change the main verb at all. It stays in its dictionary form.
This is great news for you because you already know a lot of infinitives! You just need to learn the six helper forms. Once you have those down, you can predict almost anything.
It is a very logical system that rewards you for knowing your basic vocabulary.

Formation Pattern

1
Building a prediction in Romanian is as easy as 1-2-3. Follow these steps to create the standard future tense:
2
Identify the person you are talking about (I, you, he/she, etc.).
3
Choose the correct auxiliary form of the verb a vrea:
4
voi (I)
5
vei (you, singular)
6
va (he/she/it)
7
vom (we)
8
veți (you, plural)
9
vor (they)
10
Add the infinitive of the main verb (e.g., a merge, a mânca, a scrie). Drop the a from the infinitive.
11
Example: Eu + voi + merge = Voi merge (I will go).
12
Example: Ea + va + ploua = Va ploua (It will rain).
13
Notice that the main verb never changes its ending. Whether it is voi scrie or vor scrie, the word scrie stays exactly the same. It is like a sturdy pair of shoes that fits everyone in the family! Just remember to keep the auxiliary and the infinitive together. If you want to say not, just put nu right at the beginning: Nu voi merge (I will not go).

When To Use It

Use this tense when you want to sound certain or formal about the future. It is perfect for real-world scenarios like these:
  • Weather Forecasts: When the news anchor says Va fi soare (It will be sunny), they are using this tense. Even if they are wrong (which happens!), they use this formal structure.
  • Job Interviews: You want to sound professional. Say Voi învăța repede (I will learn quickly) to impress your future boss.
  • Making Promises: If you tell a friend Te voi suna mâine (I will call you tomorrow), it sounds like a serious commitment.
  • Horoscopes and Predictions: Vei găsi dragostea (You will find love). It sounds mystical and definitive.
  • Written Plans: If you are writing a travel itinerary or a formal email, this is your go-to tense.
  • Scientific Facts: Soarele va răsări la ora șase (The sun will rise at six o'clock).
It adds a layer of authority to your speech. If you use it while ordering food, you might sound a bit like a robot from a sci-fi movie, but people will definitely understand you!

When Not To Use It

While this tense is great, it is not always the best choice for every situation. Avoid it in these cases:
  • Casual Conversations: If you are just grabbing a coffee with a friend, the standard voi future can sound a bit stiff. Most people use the o să + subjunctive form instead (e.g., o să merg).
  • Immediate Actions: If you are about to do something right this second, use the present tense. Don't say Voi deschide ușa if your hand is already on the doorknob. Just say Deschid ușa.
  • Past Events: This might seem obvious, but don't use it for things that already happened. Predictions are strictly for the not yet.
  • Commands: If you want someone to do something right now, use the imperative, not the future. Vei tăcea! (You will be quiet!) sounds more like a villain's threat than a polite request.
Think of it like wearing a tuxedo. It is great for a wedding, but maybe a bit much for a trip to the grocery store.

Common Mistakes

Even native speakers might slip up, but you can avoid these classic traps:
  • The A Trap: Many learners keep the a in the infinitive. They say voi a merge. Wrong! You must drop the a. It is simply voi merge.
  • Mixing Auxiliaries: Confusing va (he/she) with vor (they) is common. Remember: va is for one person, vor is for the crowd.
  • Using Present Endings: Do not try to conjugate the main verb. Voi merg is a big no-no. Keep that main verb in its dictionary form.
  • The Nu Placement: Sometimes people try to put nu between the auxiliary and the verb. Voi nu merge sounds like Yoda. The correct way is Nu voi merge.
  • Pronunciation: Make sure to stress the auxiliary correctly. Voi sounds like voy, not vo-ee.
Don't worry if you mess up the auxiliaries at first. Most Romanians will know exactly what you mean if you say vei instead of veți. Just keep practicing!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

In Romanian, you have two main ways to talk about the future. It is important to know the difference so you don't sound like a textbook at a party.
  1. 1The Standard Future (Viitorul I): This is what we are learning here (voi merge). It is formal, written, and used for predictions. It is like the English will.
  2. 2The Colloquial Future (Viitorul II): This uses o să + the subjunctive (o să merg). This is what you will hear 90% of the time in daily life. It is like the English going to.
If you use voi merge at a club, people might think you are about to give a speech. If you use o să merg in a legal contract, it might look a bit too casual.
There is also a third, very regional version using a avea (am să merg), mostly heard in Moldova or in literature. For now, stick to voi for formal/predictions and o să for friends. It is like having a formal suit and a pair of jeans in your grammar closet.

Quick FAQ

Q

Is voi a separate word?

Yes, it is an auxiliary verb that comes before the main verb.

Q

Can I use this for the weather?

Absolutely! It is the most common way to hear weather reports: Va fi rece (It will be cold).

Q

Do I need to use pronouns like eu or tu?

Not really. The auxiliary (voi, vei, etc.) already tells us who is doing the action. Voi merge is perfectly fine on its own.

Q

Is this tense hard to learn?

Not at all! Since the main verb doesn't change, you only have to memorize six short words. You've got this!

Meanings

The future tense is used to express actions that will happen after the current moment, including predictions, promises, and intentions.

1

Simple Prediction

Stating that an event will occur in the future.

“Va ploua mâine.”

“Vom ajunge la timp.”

2

Intentions/Promises

Expressing a personal commitment to do something.

“Voi învăța mai mult.”

“Te voi suna diseară.”

3

Probability/Conjecture

Speculating about a current state or future outcome.

“Va fi acasă acum.”

“Oare va ști răspunsul?”

Future Tense Conjugation (Verb: a merge - to go)

Person Auxiliary Infinitive Full Form
Eu voi merge voi merge
Tu vei merge vei merge
El/Ea va merge va merge
Noi vom merge vom merge
Voi veți merge veți merge
Ei/Ele vor merge vor merge

Reference Table

Reference table for Predictions
Pronoun Auxiliary Main Verb (Infinitive) English Translation
Eu voi lucra I will work
Tu vei mânca You will eat
El / Ea va dormi He / She will sleep
Noi vom călători We will travel
Voi veți scrie You (pl.) will write
Ei / Ele vor pleca They will leave

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
Voi face acest lucru.

Voi face acest lucru. (Completing a task)

Neutral
Voi face asta.

Voi face asta. (Completing a task)

Informell
O să fac asta.

O să fac asta. (Completing a task)

Umgangssprache
Fac asta.

Fac asta. (Completing a task)

When to Predict in Romanian

Future Predictions

Weather

  • va ploua it will rain
  • va fi soare it will be sunny

Promises

  • voi veni I will come
  • te voi suna I will call you

Horoscope

  • vei câștiga you will win
  • vei călători you will travel

Formal vs. Informal Future

Formal (Viitorul I)
Voi merge I will go (written/formal)
Va fi It will be (news/weather)
Informal (o să)
O să merg I'm going to go (speech)
O să fie It's going to be (casual)

How to Build a Prediction

1

Is it a formal context or a prediction?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'o să' instead.
2

Do you have the auxiliary (voi, vei, va...)?

YES ↓
NO
Pick the right one for the person.
3

Did you remove the 'a' from the infinitive?

YES ↓
NO
Remove 'a' immediately!
4

Is the main verb unchanged?

YES ↓
NO
Don't conjugate it. Keep it simple.

Future Scenarios

💼

Job Interview

  • • Voi lucra mult
  • • Voi învăța
🏖️

Vacation

  • • Vom înota
  • • Vom vizita
🔮

Fortune Teller

  • • Vei fi bogat
  • • Vei iubi
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Voi merge acasă.

I will go home.

2

Vei citi o carte.

You will read a book.

3

Va ploua mâine.

It will rain tomorrow.

4

Vom mânca pizza.

We will eat pizza.

1

Nu voi întârzia la școală.

I will not be late for school.

2

Veți vizita Bucureștiul?

Will you visit Bucharest?

3

Ei vor termina proiectul.

They will finish the project.

4

Va fi o zi lungă.

It will be a long day.

1

Voi încerca să ajung la timp.

I will try to arrive on time.

2

Oare va ști adevărul?

Will he know the truth?

3

Nu vom accepta această ofertă.

We will not accept this offer.

4

Vor fi deja plecați când ajungem.

They will already be gone when we arrive.

1

Vom fi nevoiți să schimbăm planul.

We will be forced to change the plan.

2

Va fi fost o greșeală de tipar.

It must have been a typo.

3

Nu se va întâmpla nimic rău.

Nothing bad will happen.

4

Veți fi surprinși de rezultat.

You will be surprised by the result.

1

Va fi știind el ce face.

He must know what he is doing.

2

Nu voi fi terminat lucrarea până luni.

I will not have finished the paper by Monday.

3

Se va dovedi a fi o decizie înțeleaptă.

It will prove to be a wise decision.

4

Vor fi fost deja informați despre schimbări.

They must have already been informed about the changes.

1

Va fi având el motivele sale.

He surely has his reasons.

2

Nu va fi fost niciodată mai clar.

It will never have been clearer.

3

Vom fi fiind martorii unei schimbări istorice.

We will be witnessing a historical change.

4

Oricât va fi încercat, nu a reușit.

However much he may have tried, he didn't succeed.

Easily Confused

Predictions vs. Future vs. 'O să' Future

Learners don't know which one to use when.

Predictions vs. Future vs. Present

Learners use present for future events.

Predictions vs. Infinitive with 'a'

Learners keep the 'a' particle.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Eu voi a merge

✓

Eu voi merge

Do not include the 'a' particle.
✗

Eu va merge

✓

Eu voi merge

Conjugate the auxiliary for the subject.
✗

Nu merge voi

✓

Nu voi merge

The auxiliary must come before the verb.
✗

Voi merge mâine

✓

Voi merge mâine

This is actually correct, but ensure the verb is in infinitive.
✗

Vei tu merge?

✓

Vei merge?

Subject pronouns are usually omitted.
✗

Va fi plouând

✓

Va ploua

Use the simple infinitive, not the gerund.
✗

Ei vor a mânca

✓

Ei vor mânca

Again, no 'a' particle.
✗

O să voi merge

✓

Voi merge

Don't mix the two future constructions.
✗

Va fi fost merge

✓

Va fi mers

Use the past participle for perfect tenses.
✗

Nu va fi ști

✓

Nu va ști

Don't use the auxiliary for the main verb.
✗

Va fi fiind să meargă

✓

Va fi mergând

Ensure correct participle usage.
✗

Nu va fi fost terminat

✓

Nu va fi terminat

Watch the passive voice structure.
✗

Va fi știind el

✓

Va fi știind el

This is actually correct for conjecture.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ ___.

Nu ___ ___ mâine.

___ ___ la timp?

Cred că ___ ___ o zi bună.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Ne vom vedea la 8?

Weather Forecast very common

Va ploua în toată țara.

Job Interview common

Voi aduce valoare echipei.

Travel common

Când va pleca trenul?

Food Delivery occasional

Comanda va ajunge în 30 de minute.

Social Media common

Mâine voi posta ceva nou!

Sign up free to see all examples
🎯

The 'V' Rule

Notice that every single auxiliary for the future starts with the letter 'V'. This makes them easy to spot in a sentence!
⚠️

No 'A' Allowed

Think of the auxiliary as a bouncer at a club. It doesn't let the 'a' from the infinitive inside. 'Voi merge', not 'Voi a merge'.
💬

News vs. Coffee

If you watch the Romanian news, you will hear 'va fi'. If you talk to the person next to you on the bus, you will hear 'o să fie'. Use 'va' to sound like an expert!
💡

The Lazy Verb

The main verb in the future tense is basically on vacation. It doesn't change, it doesn't move, it just sits there in its infinitive form.

Smart Tips

Use the 'voi' future instead of 'o să'.

O să merg la întâlnire. → Voi merge la întâlnire.

Use the future tense for conjecture.

El este obosit. → Va fi obosit.

Use the 'voi' future for a structured list.

Merg la piață, cumpăr pâine. → Voi merge la piață și voi cumpăra pâine.

Use rising intonation for questions.

Vei merge. → Vei merge?

Aussprache

/voj/

Voi

Pronounced like 'voy'.

/vom/

Vom

Pronounced like 'vom'.

Statement

Voi merge. ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Question

Vei merge? ↗

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Voi' (I will) sounds like 'Voyage'—you are going on a journey into the future!

Visual Association

Imagine a 'V' shape made of light pointing forward. Every time you say 'Voi', 'Vei', 'Va', you are tracing that forward arrow.

Rhyme

Voi, vei, va, vom, veți, vor, / The future tense is at your door!

Story

I am standing at a train station. I look at my watch and say 'Voi pleca' (I will leave). My friend asks 'Vei pleca?' (Will you leave?). I shake my head and say 'Nu voi pleca' (I will not leave) because the train is delayed.

Word Web

voiveivavomvețivorviitormâine

Herausforderung

Write down 5 things you will do tomorrow using the 'voi' future tense.

Kulturelle Hinweise

The 'voi' future is the hallmark of educated speech and formal writing.

Locals often prefer the 'o să' construction even in semi-formal settings.

You might hear slight variations in the auxiliary pronunciation.

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

Conversation Starters

“

Ce vei face mâine?

“

Crezi că va ploua?

“

Ce vei studia anul viitor?

“

Cum va arăta lumea peste 50 de ani?

Journal Prompts

Scrie 5 lucruri pe care le vei face mâine.
Descrie planurile tale pentru vacanța de vară.
Cum crezi că se va schimba viața ta în 5 ani?
Dacă ai putea prezice viitorul, ce ai spune?
Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Choose the correct auxiliary for the first person plural (we).

Noi ___ vizita bunicii weekend-ul viitor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vom
For 'noi' (we), the correct auxiliary is always 'vom'.
Complete the sentence with the correct future form of 'a fi' (to be).

Mâine ___ o zi frumoasă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: va fi
The subject is 'o zi' (it), so we use 'va' + the infinitive 'fi'.
Identify the correct negative future form.

Eu ___ întârzia la ședință.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nu voi
In Romanian, 'nu' always comes before the auxiliary verb in the future tense.

Score: /3

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct future form of 'a mânca'.

Eu ___ o pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: voi mânca
The subject is 'Eu', so use 'voi'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Voi merge acasă.
The infinitive should not have 'a'.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ei va merge la film.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ei vor merge la film.
The auxiliary must match the subject 'Ei'.
Transform the sentence to negative. Sentence Transformation

Voi pleca mâine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nu voi pleca mâine.
Place 'nu' before the auxiliary.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Vei veni la petrecere? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Da, voi.
The answer must match the subject 'Eu'.
Build a sentence using these words. Sentence Building

mâine / noi / merge / la / mare

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Noi vom merge la mare mâine.
Standard word order is Subject-Verb-Object.
Sort these into future or present. Grammar Sorting

Sort: 'merg', 'voi merge', 'mănânc', 'voi mânca'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Present: merg, mănânc; Future: voi merge, voi mânca
The 'voi' auxiliary marks the future.
Match the subject to the auxiliary. Match Pairs

Match: Eu, Tu, Noi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu-voi, Tu-vei, Noi-vom
Correct conjugation of 'a vrea'.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

No, it is better to use the 'voi' future for formal writing.

The 'a' is part of the infinitive marker; when you add the auxiliary, you only need the stem.

No, it is very consistent once you learn the auxiliary.

Your sentence will be grammatically incorrect and hard to understand.

No, that would be the conditional or future-in-the-past.

Yes, the 'voi' future is standard across all Romanian-speaking regions.

Just add 'nu' before the auxiliary verb.

Yes, it is common to use it for conjecture about the present.

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Cantaré (synthetic)

Romanian uses an auxiliary verb, Spanish adds a suffix.

French partial

Je chanterai (synthetic)

Romanian's structure is closer to the original Latin 'habere' + infinitive.

German high

Ich werde singen

The auxiliary verb meaning is different (become vs. want).

Japanese low

Mirai-kei (Present/Future)

Romanian has a dedicated grammatical tense for the future.

Arabic moderate

Sa- + verb

Romanian uses a separate auxiliary verb.

Chinese moderate

Yào / Huì + verb

Chinese verbs do not conjugate; Romanian verbs do.

Previous
Future Intentions
Next
Colloquial Future

Related Grammar Rules

A2

Perfect Tense Usage

Overview Welcome to the most important past tense in the Romanian language. If you want to talk about your life, you ne...
A2

Narrating Past Events

Overview Think about your last weekend. You probably went out, met friends, or maybe just slept in. To tell someone abo...
A2

Imperfect vs Perfect

Overview Talking about the past in Romanian is like using a camera. Sometimes you want a high-definition video. Other t...
A2

Descriptive Past

Overview Think of the `Imperfectul` as the background music of a movie. It doesn't tell you the main plot points. It te...
A2

Habitual Actions

Overview Talking about habits is like describing the soundtrack of your life. It’s the stuff you do every single day wi...
Was this helpful?

Kommentare (0)

Zum Kommentieren Anmelden
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!