The future (ir + a) tense, also known as the future of intention or informal future, is a vital aspect of Portuguese grammar. This tense is used to express actions that will take place in the future, indicating the speaker’s intention or a planned event. The construction of this tense is relatively straightforward, employing the verb ‘ir’ (to go) in the present tense, followed by the preposition ‘a’ and the main verb in its infinitive form.

Conjugation of the Verb ‘ir’

Before delving into the usage of the future (ir + a) tense, it is essential to understand how to conjugate the verb ‘ir’ in the present tense. The conjugation is as follows:

• Eu vou
• Tu vais
• Ele/ela vai
• Nós vamos
• Vós ides
• Eles/elas vão

Formation of the Future (ir + a) Tense

Forming the future (ir + a) tense is simple; use the conjugated form of ‘ir’ applicable to the desired subject pronoun, followed by the preposition ‘a’ and the infinitive of the main verb. Here is an example with the verb ‘comer’ (to eat):

• Eu vou comer.
• Tu vais comer.
• Ele/ela vai comer.
• Nós vamos comer.
• Vós ides comer.
• Eles/elas vão comer.

Usage of the Future (ir + a) Tense

The future (ir + a) tense is commonly employed for everyday communication to express intentions, plans, or predictions about the near future. These can include:

• Intention: Ele vai estudar amanhã (He is going to study tomorrow)
• Plan: Nós vamos viajar no próximo mês (We are going to travel next month)
• Prediction: Acho que vai chover hoje (I think it’s going to rain today)

Difference Between Future (ir + a) and Simple Future Tenses

Portuguese grammar has another way of expressing future actions: the simple future tense. This tense is considered more formal than the future (ir + a) tense, and it uses a single-word conjugated verb without the need for ‘ir’ and ‘a’. Here are the same examples as before, now using the simple future tense:

• Eu comerei.
• Tu comerás.
• Ele/ela comerá.
• Nós comeremos.
• Vós comereis.
• Eles/elas comerão.

In spoken and informal contexts, the future (ir + a) tense is more prevalent, whereas the simple future tense is typically reserved for written and formal situations.

Examples in Context

To better illustrate the application of the future (ir + a) tense in different scenarios, consider the following examples:

1. Amanhã, nós vamos assistir a um filme no cinema (Tomorrow, we are going to watch a movie at the cinema).
2. Ele vai começar um novo emprego na próxima semana (He is going to start a new job next week).
3. Elas vão comprar passagens de avião para a viagem (They are going to buy plane tickets for the trip).

Conclusion

The future (ir + a) tense is an integral part of Portuguese grammar, allowing speakers to express their intentions, plans, and predictions about future events. This tense is easy to master with proper understanding and practice of conjugating the verb ‘ir’ and using the infinitive form of the main verb. Implementation of the future (ir + a) tense will enhance your communication skills and help you ascertain fluency in the Portuguese language.