Future (Futur mit werden)
The Futur I is formed with the present tense of werden plus an infinitive at the end of the clause: "Ich werde morgen kommen" = "I will come tomorrow". In practice Germans express most future events with the plain present tense plus a time word, and reserve Futur I for predictions, promises, and emphasis about what will happen.
How to build Futur I
Conjugate werden in the present as the second element, and place the infinitive at the end.
- werden (present) + … + Infinitiv
- ich werde, du wirst, er/sie/es wird, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie/Sie werden
Ich werde dich anrufen.
I will call you.
Sie wird Ärztin werden.
She will become a doctor.
infinitive "werden" at the end
Present tense usually covers the future
For scheduled or planned events, the present tense with a time word is the most natural choice — Futur I can sound heavy.
Morgen fahre ich nach Köln.
Tomorrow I am going to Cologne.
present preferred over "werde fahren"
Nächstes Jahr ziehen wir um.
Next year we are moving.
When Futur I is the right choice
Use Futur I for predictions, promises/intentions, and to stress that something really will happen. With wohl it can also express a present assumption.
Es wird morgen regnen.
It will rain tomorrow.
prediction
Ich werde dir helfen.
I will help you.
promise
Er wird wohl krank sein.
He is probably sick.
werden + wohl = present assumption
Examples
Ich werde morgen lernen.
I will study tomorrow.
Wir werden nach Spanien fliegen.
We will fly to Spain.
Wirst du kommen?
Will you come?
Es wird alles gut werden.
Everything will be fine.
infinitive werden at the end
Nächste Woche habe ich frei.
Next week I have off.
present used for a fixed future plan
Futur I — kommen (to come)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | werde kommen |
| du | wirst kommen |
| er/sie/es | wird kommen |
| wir | werden kommen |
| ihr | werdet kommen |
| sie/Sie | werden kommen |
Common Mistakes
- ✗ Ich werde morgen zu gehen → ✓ Ich werde morgen gehen (no "zu" before the infinitive)
- ✗ Ich will kommen (meaning "I will come") → ✓ Ich werde kommen ("will" is the future auxiliary werden, not wollen)
- ✗ Ich werde gehen morgen → ✓ Ich werde morgen gehen (the infinitive goes to the very end)
- ✗ du werdest → ✓ du wirst (werden is irregular in the present)
- ✗ overusing Futur I for simple plans → ✓ use the present + time word: "Morgen komme ich."
Lookup Tips
- The full-meaning verb is always the last word of the clause, as a bare infinitive.
- If a time word already marks the future, the present tense is usually enough.
- Do not translate English "will" with wollen — that means "to want". The future auxiliary is werden.
Frequently asked questions
Do Germans really use the present for the future?
Yes, very often. "Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin" is more natural than "Ich werde morgen nach Berlin fahren" for a planned event.
Why does "werden" sometimes mean "to become"?
werden is both the future auxiliary and the verb "to become". As an auxiliary it takes an infinitive; alone it means "become": "Es wird kalt" (It is getting cold).
What does "Er wird wohl zu Hause sein" mean?
It is a present-time guess: "He is probably at home." werden + wohl expresses an assumption about now, not the future.