Ir + A + Infinitive

The most common way to talk about the future in spoken Latin American Spanish is not the simple future at all — it's the construction ir + a + infinitive. This is the direct equivalent of English "going to + verb" and is what you'll hear every day in conversation.

The Formula

ir (present tense) + a + infinitive

That is it. You conjugate ir in the present tense for the subject, insert the preposition a, and follow with any infinitive.

Present Tense of Ir

SubjectForm of ir
yovoy
túvas
él / ella / ustedva
nosotros / nosotrasvamos
ellos / ellas / ustedesvan

Putting It Together

Attach a and any infinitive to form a future expression. The infinitive stays unchanged regardless of subject.

SubjectExample
yovoy a estudiar
túvas a estudiar
él / ella / ustedva a estudiar
nosotrosvamos a estudiar
ellos / ustedesvan a estudiar

Voy a estudiar para el examen esta noche.

I'm going to study for the exam tonight.

¿Vas a venir a la fiesta el sábado?

Are you going to come to the party on Saturday?

Vamos a comer tacos en ese lugar nuevo.

We're going to eat tacos at that new place.

Van a llegar tarde por el tráfico.

They're going to arrive late because of traffic.

Why It's So Common

Ir + a + infinitive feels immediate, casual, and personal. It works for any future, but it especially fits:

  • The near future (today, tomorrow, this week)
  • Plans the speaker has already made
  • Decisions made in the moment
  • Informal conversation in general
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In Latin American speech, voy a + infinitive is by far the most common way to say "I will." If in doubt, use this construction — you'll sound natural and nobody will mistake your meaning.

Questions and Negation

Questions and negative sentences follow regular Spanish rules. The word no goes before the conjugated form of ir, not before the infinitive.

No vamos a salir esta noche.

We're not going to go out tonight.

¿Qué van a hacer ustedes mañana?

What are you all going to do tomorrow?

With Pronouns

Object and reflexive pronouns can go before the conjugated ir or attached to the end of the infinitive. Both positions are equally correct.

Te voy a llamar mañana. / Voy a llamarte mañana.

I'm going to call you tomorrow.

Me voy a levantar temprano. / Voy a levantarme temprano.

I'm going to get up early.

Common Time Markers

These expressions pair naturally with ir + a + infinitive, especially for the near future:

ExpressionMeaning
ahoranow / right now
en un ratoin a little while
hoy / esta nochetoday / tonight
mañanatomorrow
el próximo fin de semananext weekend
prontosoon

Ahora voy a llamar al doctor.

I'm going to call the doctor now.

En un rato vamos a salir al parque.

In a little while we're going to go out to the park.

Watch Out: Ir vs. Ir + a + infinitive

Don't confuse this construction with the plain verb ir meaning "to go." If there's an infinitive after a, you're dealing with a future expression.

Voy al supermercado.

I'm going to the supermarket. (actual movement)

Voy a comprar pan.

I'm going to buy bread. (near future)

Sometimes both ideas combine:

Voy al supermercado a comprar pan.

I'm going to the supermarket to buy bread.

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The a in this construction is required — you cannot drop it. Voy estudiar is incorrect; it must be voy *a estudiar*.

Ready to compare the two futures side by side? See Simple Future vs Ir + A.

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