Introduction

Talking about the future involves expressing plans, intentions, appointments, and predictions. Dutch uses several common ways to do this, often relying on the present tense or the verb gaan.

Method 1: Present Tense + Future Time Indication

As covered previously (Chapter 11 - Future Tense), using the simple present tense combined with a future time word is extremely common and natural for talking about plans, schedules, and near-future events.

Structure: Subject + Verb (Present Tense) + Future Time Indication + (Rest)

• Future Time Indicators: morgen (tomorrow), vanavond (tonight), volgende week/maand/jaar (next week/month/year), binnenkort (soon), over [time period] (in [time period]), op [date/day], straks (later today).

Use Cases:

• Fixed appointments and schedules.
• Personal plans for the near future.
• Events that are certain to happen.

Examples:

• Ik heb morgen een afspraak bij de tandarts. (I have an appointment at the dentist tomorrow.)
• Wij gaan volgende week op vakantie. (We are going on holiday next week.) - Here gaan is the main verb, present tense.
• De winkel sluit om zes uur. (The shop closes at six o'clock.)
• Wat doe je vanavond? (What are you doing tonight?)
• Hij komt straks langs. (He is coming by later.)

Method 2: Using gaan + Infinitive (Going to...)

Using the verb gaan (conjugated in the present tense) followed by an infinitive at the end of the clause is similar to the English "going to + verb". It emphasizes intention or a plan that has been made.

Structure: Subject + gaan (conjugated) + (Rest of Sentence) + Infinitive Main Verb

Conjugation of gaan (Present Tense): ga, gaat, gaat, gaan

Use Cases:

• Expressing personal intentions and plans.
• Making predictions based on present evidence (less common than zullen for general predictions).

Examples:

• Ik ga vanavond koken. (I am going to cook tonight.) - Intention
• Wij gaan een nieuwe auto kopen. (We are going to buy a new car.) - Plan/Intention
• Zij gaat Nederlands leren. (She is going to learn Dutch.) - Intention
• Het gaat regenen. (It's going to rain.) - Prediction, often based on seeing dark clouds.
• Wat ga je dit weekend doen? (What are you going to do this weekend?)

Method 3: Using zullen + Infinitive (Will/Shall)

Reviewed in Chapter 10 & 11. Zullen is used for:

• Promises (Ik zal je helpen. - I will help you.)
• Formal future announcements (De trein zal vertraging hebben. - The train will be delayed.)
• Predictions (Het zal wel druk zijn. - It will probably be busy.)
• Proposals (Zullen we gaan? - Shall we go?)

While it expresses futurity, it's often more specific than general plans/intentions covered by the present tense or gaan.

Comparing the Methods for Plans/Intentions

• Present Tense: Good for fixed plans, schedules.
• Ik werk morgen. (I work / am working tomorrow - scheduled)
• gaan + Infinitive: Good for intentions, less fixed plans.
• Ik ga morgen werken. (I am going to work tomorrow - expresses intention)
• zullen + Infinitive: Less common for simple plans, more for promises/predictions.
• Ik zal morgen werken. (I will work tomorrow - sounds like a promise or confirmation)

Often, both Present Tense + Time and gaan + Infinitive are possible:

• Ik bezoek mijn ouders volgend weekend. (Present Tense - sounds like a plan)
• Ik ga mijn ouders volgend weekend bezoeken. (gaan - sounds like an intention/plan)

Talking About Future Wishes/Hopes

• Ik hoop dat ... (I hope that ...)
• Ik hoop dat het mooi weer wordt. (I hope that the weather will be nice.)
• Ik wil graag ... (I would like ...)
• Ik wil graag volgend jaar naar Italië gaan. (I would like to go to Italy next year.)

For talking about future plans and intentions at A2 level, the most common and useful methods are:

1. Using the Present Tense with a future time indicator (for schedules, fixed plans).
2. Using gaan + Infinitive (for intentions, personal plans).

Remember zullen for promises, predictions, and proposals. Practice describing your plans for tomorrow, the weekend, or next week using these structures.