Simple Future: Regular -ar Verbs

Most Portuguese tenses require you to drop the -ar first. Not this one! The Simple Future is a bit lazy, in a good way. You take the entire infinitive form of the verb. Then, you simply glue a specific ending onto the back. It’s like adding a trailer to a car. The car (the verb) stays exactly the same. The trailer (the ending) tells us who is doing it and when. This works for all regular -ar verbs. Verbs like falar (to speak) or estudar (to study) are perfect examples. Because the base stays the same, it's very predictable. You won't get lost in weird stem changes here. It’s as straightforward as a direct flight to Lisbon.

1. 1To build this tense, just follow these three easy steps:
2. 2Pick your regular -ar verb in its full form. Example: viajar (to travel).
3. 3Identify who is performing the action (Eu, Você, etc.).
4. 4Add the corresponding future ending to the end of the infinitive.
5. 5Here are the endings you need to memorize:
6. 6Eu + -ei (e.g., viajarei)
7. 7Você/Ele/Ela + -á (e.g., viajará)
8. 8Nós + -emos (e.g., viajaremos)
9. 9Vocês/Eles/Elas + -ão (e.g., viajarão)\n
10. 10Notice that the á and ão endings always have accents. These accents are not optional decorations. They tell you to stress the end of the word. If you forget them, you might sound like you're speaking in the past! It's the difference between "he talked" and "he will talk."

Use the Simple Future when you feel confident about the future. It’s great for formal settings and writing.

• Making Promises: "I will call you tomorrow."
• Professional Goals: "The company will hire new staff next month."
• Weather Predictions: "It will rain in Porto this afternoon."
• Formal Intentions: "We will begin the meeting at nine."

In a job interview, this tense makes you sound decisive. It shows you have a clear plan. If you tell an interviewer estudarei muito (I will study a lot), it sounds like a firm commitment. It’s also the go-to tense for news reports. You’ll hear it on the TV all the time. "The President will visit Brazil tomorrow."

Don't use this for things happening right now. That’s for the present tense. Also, avoid it for very casual, immediate plans with friends. In coffee shops or bars, Brazilians especially prefer a different structure. They use ir (to go) + the infinitive. For example, vou falar instead of falarei. The Simple Future can sound a bit "fancy" in a casual conversation. Use it sparingly when grabbing a beer. If you use it too much at a party, people might think you're reading from a law book. It’s a bit like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. Save the Simple Future for when you want to sound polished or certain.

One big mistake is dropping the -ar ending. Many learners try to say eu falerei but accidentally say eu falei. Wait! Falei means "I spoke." That’s the past! Always keep that r in the middle. The r is your bridge to the future.

Another slip-up is the accent on você. Without the á, it sounds weak. The stress must be on that final syllable. Also, watch out for the ão sound. It’s a nasal sound, like you have a slight cold. Don't pronounce it like a simple "o."

Finally, don't confuse -emos with the present tense -amos.

• Nós falamos = We speak (now).
• Nós falaremos = We will speak.

That extra re in the middle is vital. It’s the secret sauce of the future.

You might wonder about the "Immediate Future." That’s the Vou + Verb pattern.

• Vou trabalhar = I’m going to work (casual, soon).
• Trabalharei = I will work (formal, certain).

The Simple Future (trabalharei) feels more distant or official. The Vou version feels like it's happening almost now. Think of it like this: Vou is for your grocery list. Simple Future is for your five-year career plan. In Portugal, the Simple Future is used a bit more often in speech than in Brazil. In Brazil, it’s mostly for writing or very formal speeches. Both are correct, but they carry different vibes. Choose the one that fits your environment.