Grammar: Talking About the Future

1. Introduction to Talking About the Future

When discussing future events in German, there are several ways to express this.
Modal verbs and infinitive clauses help indicate plans, while werden can be used to discuss potential future scenarios.

2. Modal Verbs for Future Intentions

Modal verbs like wollen (want to), mögen (would like to) and sollen (should) can be used to express future intentions. Examples include “Ich will Arzt werden” (I want to become a doctor), or “Wir sollen morgen reisen” (We should travel tomorrow).

3. Werden for Future Tense

The verb werden is often employed to discuss future events. For example, “Ich werde morgen studieren” (I will study tomorrow).
It’s also used with another verb at the end of a sentence to indicate a future action: “Ich werde einen Film sehen” (I will watch a movie).

4. Infinitive clauses for future plans

If you want to describe future plans, infinitive clauses are extremely useful. They are usually used with phrases like, “Ich habe vor…” (I plan to) or “Ich habe die Absicht…” (I have the intention to).
For example, “Ich habe vor, Deutsch zu lernen” (I plan to learn German).

5. Talking About Future Probability

Use phrases like vielleicht (maybe), wahrscheinlich (probably) and möglicherweise (possibly) to discuss the likelihood of future events.
For instance, “Vielleicht wird es morgen regnen” (Maybe it will rain tomorrow).

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Be careful not to confuse the correct order of verbs in a sentence when using ‘werden’.
Forgetting to use the infinitive at the end of the sentence is a common error made when using modal verbs and infinitive clauses.

7. Practising Talking About the Future

Practice forming sentences in the future tense, using a range of verbs and adjectives to get comfortable with structure.
Ensure you understand common modal verbs and become comfortable with their usage in different future contexts.
Familiarise yourself with “werden” as it’s a key component to discuss the future in German.
Learn the difference in usage between wollen, werden and infinitive clauses when describing different aspects of the future.