Future Tense in Basque

Overview

The future tense in Basque is formed by adding the suffix -ko or -go to the verb participle and combining it with the present tense auxiliary. This makes the future straightforward once you know the present tense auxiliaries. At the B1 level, you will use the future for predictions, plans, intentions, and promises — expanding your ability to discuss events that have not yet happened.

The choice between -ko and -go depends on the final sound of the participle: verbs ending in a vowel or -n take -ko (etorriko, egingo), while verbs ending in -l or -r typically take -go (salduko becomes saldu + ko, but irakurriko). In practice, the forms are largely predictable and you will internalize them through use.

The future can also express intention, probability, and promises, making it a versatile tense for intermediate-level communication.

How It Works

Future formation: participle + -ko/-go + present auxiliary

Verb	Participle	Future form	Full example
joan (go)	joan	joango	Joango naiz. (I will go.)
egin (do)	egin	egingo	Egingo dut. (I will do it.)
etorri (come)	etorri	etorriko	Etorriko da. (He/She will come.)
ikusi (see)	ikusi	ikusiko	Ikusiko dugu. (We will see.)
jan (eat)	jan	jango	Jango dut. (I will eat.)
izan (be)	izan	izango	Izango da. (It will be.)

Future with different persons:

Person	Intransitive (joan)	Transitive (egin)
ni	joango naiz	egingo dut
zu	joango zara	egingo duzu
hura	joango da	egingo du
gu	joango gara	egingo dugu
zuek	joango zarete	egingo duzue
haiek	joango dira	egingo dute

Examples in Context

Basque	English	Note
Bihar mendira joango naiz.	Tomorrow I will go to the mountain.	Plan
Zer egingo duzu?	What will you do?	Question
Guk dena prestatuko dugu.	We will prepare everything.	Promise
Ez da erraza izango.	It will not be easy.	Prediction
Etorriko al zara nirekin?	Will you come with me?	Invitation
Eguraldia ona izango da.	The weather will be good.	Forecast
Laster jakingo dugu.	We will know soon.	Near future
Oporretan bidaiatu egingo dugu.	On vacation we will travel.	Holiday plans
Ez dut egingo.	I will not do it.	Negative future
Noiz itzuliko zara?	When will you return?	Future question

Common Mistakes

Using present tense for future events

• Wrong: Bihar mendira joaten naiz. (habitual form for future)
• Right: Bihar mendira joango naiz.
• Why: While the habitual form can sometimes convey near-future plans in casual speech, the -ko/-go form is the standard way to express future.

Confusing -ko and -go

• Wrong: joako instead of joango
• Right: joango
• Why: After verb stems ending in -n, the suffix is -go: joan → joango, egin → egingo. After most other endings, use -ko: etorri → etorriko.

Forgetting to negate correctly in future

• Wrong: Ez joango naiz.
• Right: Ez naiz joango. (The auxiliary moves after ez)
• Why: In negation, ez + auxiliary precede the future verb form: Ez naiz joango, ez dut egingo.

Usage Notes

The future tense in Basque also serves to express probability or conjecture about the present: Etxean izango da can mean "He/She will be at home" or "He/She is probably at home." This probabilistic use is common in spoken Basque. At the B1 level, the future is also the gateway to the conditional mood, which uses the same -ko/-go suffix with different auxiliary forms. Regional variation exists: some speakers prefer the form -en for the prospective in certain dialects.

Practice Tips

1. Plan your week in Basque using the future tense: Astelehen joango naiz lanera. Asteartean filmak ikusiko ditugu. Cover each day with at least one future action.
2. Practice the negative future with common verbs: Ez naiz joango, ez dut egingo, ez da etorriko. The negation pattern with future needs separate drilling.
3. Ask and answer future questions with a partner: Zer egingo duzu bihar? — Bihar liburutegia joango naiz.

Related Concepts

• Past Tense (Simple Past)
• Conditional Mood