Substitute Future in Spanish (Periphrastic Future) and Periphrastic Conditional

Today we are going to take a look at the substitute future tense in Spanish, also known as the periphrastic future. This tense is used to express ideas about the future. We will also take a look at the “Periphrastic Conditional”.

In Spanish, this is actually a fairly easy combination that is easy to remember. Let’s take a look at what the combination is:

The verb IR in the present tense plus an infinitive verb.

I’m going to sing.

Go to the baby.

Go to dinner.

Go write.

Go correct.

For example: Next weekend, the boys are going to go to the park.

(Next weekend the children are going to the park).

With the “future” we usually use the following expressions:

In 2 days: In (#) days

Next weekend: Next weekend

Next weekend: Next weekend.

Next week: Next week.

Next year: Next year.

The nearby moons: Next Monday.

Tomorrow tomorrow.

The day after tomorrow: The day after tomorrow.

Tonight: Tonight.

The “periprastic conditional” is not a formal tense, like the “periprastic future” (I’m going out), it is a group of words used to form an idea.

The “Perifrastic Conditional” is formed by the verb IR in the Past Perfect + A + Verb in the Infinitive: this group of words is used to explain something that you were going to do in the past but in the end you didn’t. For example: “I was going to the party last night, but I had a headache.” The reason why an action is not performed can be expressed in the past, present, or future.

I was going to paint

You were going out

I was going + to + eat

we were going to see

They were going to buy

For example:

We were going to go to that restaurant for dinner, but we couldn’t make reservations and there was no more space.

(We were going to go for dinner but couldn’t make reservations and there was no more room).

I was going to call you this morning, but the phone doesn’t work.

(I was going to call you this morning, but the phone doesn’t work).

Peter was going to go to Las Vegas at the end of the week, but he can’t because he has to work.

(Peter was going to go to Las Vegas next weekend, but he can’t, because he will have to work).

For more practice with the Substitute Future Tense in Spanish (Periphrastic Future) and the Periphrastic Conditional, I recommend Level 1 of Learn Spanish Like Crazy. Use that course in conjunction with FSI (Foreign Service Institute) Level 1 Spanish.