Ir a + Infinitive: The Near Future in Spanish

Talk about plans and what is about to happen with ir a and an infinitive.

The pattern

Use the present tense of ir, then a, then a verb in the infinitive. Only ir changes with the person.

Spanish	English
Voy a comer.	I am going to eat.
Vas a llegar tarde.	You are going to be late.
Va a llover.	It is going to rain.
Vamos a viajar en julio.	We are going to travel in July.
Vais a ver la película.	You all are going to watch the movie. Used in Spain.
Van a comprar una casa.	They are going to buy a house.

Spanish	English
No voy a ir.	I am not going to go.
¿Vas a venir?	Are you going to come?
¿Qué vas a hacer mañana?	What are you going to do tomorrow?
No vamos a esperar más.	We are not going to wait any longer.

An object pronoun goes before ir or is attached to the infinitive. Both orders are correct.

With ir in the imperfect, the pattern talks about a plan that existed in the past.

Spanish	English
Iba a llamarte.	I was going to call you.
Íbamos a salir, pero llovió.	We were going to go out, but it rained.

Do not leave out a

The word a is required between ir and the infinitive.
Voy a estudiar. (I am going to study.)
Vamos a comer. (We are going to eat.)

The second verb stays in the infinitive

Only ir is conjugated.
Ella va a trabajar. (She is going to work.)
Ellos van a trabajar. (They are going to work.)

Say each sentence in Spanish, then open it to check your answer.

1. I am going to sleep.

Voy a dormir.

2. Are you going to eat?

¿Vas a comer?

3. It is going to be difficult.

Va a ser difícil.

4. We are not going to go.

No vamos a ir.

5. They are going to arrive tomorrow.

Van a llegar mañana.

6. I was going to tell you.

Iba a decirte.

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