Near Future (ir + inf) in Portuguese

Overview

Near Future (ir + inf) (Futuro Próximo) is a elementary (CEFR A2) topic in Portuguese grammar. Immediate future formed with ir + infinitive. Expresses planned or imminent actions. Vou comer, vais estudar, vai chover.

Understanding near future (ir + inf) is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A2 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering near future (ir + inf) will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Formation: present of ir + infinitive:

Person	Form	Example
eu	vou	Vou comer.
tu	vais	Vais estudar?
ele/ela	vai	Vai chover.
nos	vamos	Vamos sair.
eles/elas	vao	Vao viajar.

This is the most common way to express future actions in spoken Portuguese. In Brazil, it has almost completely replaced the simple future in speech.

Uses: planned actions, imminent events, intentions, predictions.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Vou comer.	I'm going to eat.
Vai chover.	It's going to rain.
Vamos sair amanhã.	We're going to go out tomorrow.
O que vais fazer?	What are you going to do?
Nao vou fazer nada.	Not going to do anything.
Vai ser dificil.	It will be difficult.
Vamos ver.	We will see.
Vao chegar tarde.	They will arrive late.
Vou-me embora.	I am going to leave.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong tense for the context

• Wrong: Choosing a different past or future tense when near future (ir + inf) is required
• Right: Identify the specific temporal meaning before selecting the tense
• Why: Each Portuguese tense carries a distinct meaning about when and how an action occurred. Near Future (ir + inf) is used in specific contexts that differ from related tenses.

Forgetting irregular forms

• Wrong: Applying regular conjugation patterns to irregular verbs
• Right: Memorize the irregular forms for common verbs in this tense
• Why: Many of the most frequently used Portuguese verbs are irregular and must be learned individually.

Mixing up register levels

• Wrong: Using very formal tense forms in casual conversation
• Right: Match your tense choice to the formality of the situation
• Why: Some forms are more common in speech while others are preferred in writing. Using the wrong register can sound awkward.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A2 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, near future (ir + inf) is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice near future (ir + inf) with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using near future (ir + inf) and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Ir (to go) -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for near future (ir + inf)
• Next steps: Simple Future -- builds on near future (ir + inf) concepts