Futur I.
werden + Infinitiv.
Futur I has one rule: conjugate werden and put the infinitive at the end. The subject, the objects, and every other part of the sentence stay exactly where they would in a Präsens sentence. Only werden and the infinitive change position. Everything else stays put.
The structure
Futur I is a two-part verb form. werden takes position two, conjugated to agree with the subject. The infinitive of the main verb moves to the very end of the sentence. Everything in between stays in normal word order.
| Position 1 | Position 2 (werden) | Middle | End (Infinitiv) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | werde | lernen. | |
| Du | wirst | morgen | kommen. |
| Er | wird | denBrief | lesen. |
| Wir | werden | denLehrer | fragen. |
| Sie | werden | nächste Woche | fliegen. |
The infinitive never changes. It does not agree with the subject. It does not carry tense. It stays in its base form no matter what comes before it.
werden: reminder of the forms
The forms of werden are the same as in the full-verb use. The stem vowel change in second and third person singular is still there.
| Person | werden (Futur I) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | Ich werde schreiben. |
| du | wirst | Du wirst arbeiten. |
| er · sie · es | wird | Er wird kommen. |
| wir | werden | Wir werden reisen. |
| ihr | werdet | Ihr werdet sehen. |
| sie · Sie | werden | Sie werden verstehen. |
Three uses of Futur I
Futur I covers three situations. They all use the same structure.
1. Plans and intentions
Futur I expresses something decided or intended for the future.
- Ich werde morgen lernen. (I will study tomorrow.)
- Wir werden nächstes Jahr heiraten. (We will get married next year.)
- Er wird dasBuch lesen. (He will read the book.)
2. Predictions
Futur I is used when making a prediction about what will happen.
- Es wird morgen regnen. (It will rain tomorrow.)
- Das wird schwierig sein. (That will be difficult.)
- Sie wird diePrüfung bestehen. (She will pass the exam.)
3. Present assumptions
Futur I is also used to express a confident guess about the present, not just about the future. Context makes the meaning clear.
- Er wird wohl schlafen. (He is probably sleeping.)
- Das wird derPostbote sein. (That must be the postman.)
Futur I vs. Präsens with a time word
In everyday spoken German, a Präsens sentence with a time word is more natural than Futur I for plans. Both are grammatically correct. Futur I adds emphasis or formality.
| Präsens + time word | Futur I | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ich lerne morgen. | Ich werde morgen lernen. | I will study tomorrow. |
| Er kommt später. | Er wird später kommen. | He will come later. |
| Wir fliegen nächste Woche. | Wir werden nächste Woche fliegen. | We will fly next week. |
Both versions work. In spoken German, the Präsens version is more common when a time word already makes the future meaning clear. Futur I is preferred for predictions, assumptions, and emphasis.
Word order in subordinate clauses
In a subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction like weil, dass, wenn, or ob, the conjugated verb moves to the end. In Futur I, that means werden moves last, after the infinitive.
| Main clause | Subordinate clause |
|---|---|
| Ich glaube, | dass er kommen wird. |
| Sie sagt, | dass sie morgen lernen wird. |
| Ich weiß nicht, | ob er kommen wird. |
In the subordinate clause, the infinitive comes before the conjugated werden. This is the opposite of the main clause order, where werden leads and the infinitive follows.
For the full picture on subordinate clause word order: weil. Because always goes to the end. For what will already be done by then, see Futur II. werden + Partizip II + haben or sein.
Futur I = werden (position 2) + Infinitiv (sentence end). The infinitive never changes. werden agrees with the subject. Used for plans, predictions, and present-tense assumptions. In everyday speech, Präsens with a time word is equally correct.