ir a + Infinitive & tener que + Infinitive

📌 Nota gramatical

The structure 'ir a' + infinitive is the most common way to express the near future in spoken Spanish. Conjugate the verb 'ir' according to the subject, add the preposition 'a', and follow it with a verb in its dictionary (infinitive) form.

📌 Nota gramatical

To use the 'ir a' future structure, you must master the irregular present tense of 'ir': voy (I go), vas (you go), va (he/she/you formal goes), vamos (we go), váis (you all go - Spain), van (they/you all formal go).

📌 Nota gramatical

The structure 'tener que' + infinitive expresses necessity or personal obligation. Conjugate the stem-changing verb 'tener' for the subject, add the mandatory word 'que', and finish with an unconjugated infinitive verb.

📌 Nota gramatical

'Tener' is an 'e->ie' stem-changing verb in the present tense (except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'), and has an irregular 'go' form in the first person singular: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen.

📌 Nota gramatical

To make an 'ir a' sentence negative, place the negative particle 'no' directly before the conjugated verb 'ir'. The rest of the structure (a + infinitive) remains unchanged.

📌 Nota gramatical

To express that you do not have to do something, place 'no' before the conjugated form of 'tener'. 'No tener que' means 'to not have to' (lack of obligation, unlike absolute prohibition).

📌 Nota gramatical

To form a question using 'ir a', invert the subject and verb or use rising intonation, enclosed in inverted question marks (¿ ?). The preposition 'a' and the infinitive stay tied to the end.

📌 Nota gramatical

To ask if someone has an obligation, structure the sentence with an interrogative tone or inversion: ¿[Conjugated tener] + que + [Infinitive]?

📌 Nota gramatical

When using object pronouns (lo, la, me, te) with 'ir a' + infinitive, you have two correct options: attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive, or place it before the conjugated verb 'ir'.

📌 Nota gramatical

Just like 'ir a', structures with 'tener que' allow object pronouns to either attach directly to the end of the infinitive or sit before the conjugated form of 'tener'.

📌 Nota gramatical

'Ir a + infinitive' expresses a future intention or plan ('what I am going to do'), while 'tener que + infinitive' expresses an external or internal obligation ('what I must/have to do').

📌 Nota gramatical

The 'ir a' future is frequently paired with A1 time markers specifying when an action will occur, such as 'mañana' (tomorrow), 'pronto' (soon), 'más tarde' (later), or 'esta tarde' (this afternoon).