Spanish grammar · Beginner
Ir a + Infinitive: Spanish's Near-Future Construction
Ir a + infinitive is Spanish's everyday near-future construction, equivalent to English be going to + verb. Conjugate ir in the present, add a + the infinitive of the main verb. Dominant in Latin American conversation; the simple future tense feels more formal.
Voy a estudiar esta noche.
I'm going to study tonight.
What it is
Ir a + infinitive is Spanish's everyday near-future construction, the equivalent of English be going to + verb. Conjugate ir in the present, add a + the infinitive of the main verb. This is the dominant future construction in Latin American conversation; the simple future tense (hablaré) sounds more formal or covers further-out predictions.
In Voy a estudiar esta noche (I'm going to study tonight), voy is ir conjugated for yo, a is the obligatory preposition, and estudiar is the infinitive.
How to spot it
Look for a form of ir (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van) + a + an infinitive (verb in -ar / -er / -ir).
- Voy a llamarte luego. — I'm going to call you later.
- Vamos a comer en casa. — We're going to eat at home.
- ¿Vas a venir? — Are you going to come?
The a is required and never optional. Voy estudiar is wrong. Voy a estudiar is right.
Ir a + Infinitive Quick Reference
Ir conjugation (present) + a + infinitive
| Person | Ir Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | voy a estudiar |
| tú | vas | vas a estudiar |
| él/ella/Ud. | va | va a estudiar |
| nosotros | vamos | vamos a estudiar |
| vosotros | vais | vais a estudiar |
| ellos/Uds. | van | van a estudiar |
Common Ir a + Infinitive Examples in Spanish
Ir a + infinitive shows up everywhere, plans, predictions, intentions:
Plans / Intentions
- Voy a estudiar esta noche.
- I'm going to study tonight.
- Vamos a viajar a México.
- We're going to travel to Mexico.
- Mañana voy a trabajar.
- Tomorrow I'm going to work.
Default for any planned future action.
Predictions
- Va a llover.
- It's going to rain.
- Vas a tener éxito.
- You're going to be successful.
- Esto va a cambiar todo.
- This is going to change everything.
When evidence points to a near outcome, synonymous with simple future in this context.
Suggestions (Let's...)
- Vamos a comer.
- Let's eat.
- Vamos a empezar.
- Let's start.
- Vamos a ver.
- Let's see.
Vamos a + infinitive doubles as Let's + verb, a soft, inclusive command.
Past Form: Iba A + Infinitive
- Iba a llamarte.
- I was going to call you.
- Ibamos a salir.
- We were going to leave.
Use imperfect of ir + a + infinitive for past intentions that didn't necessarily happen.
How to Use Ir a + Infinitive
Conjugate Ir + a + Infinitive
Conjugate ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van) and add the preposition a + the infinitive of the main verb.
Voy a comer. Vas a estudiar. Vamos a viajar.
I'm going to eat. You're going to study. We're going to travel.
The a is required, never drop it. Voy estudiar is grammatically wrong.
Stack with Object Pronouns
Object pronouns can go either before ir or attached to the infinitive, both are correct.
Voy a llamarte. = Te voy a llamar.
I'm going to call you. (Both correct.)
Both placements are equally common in native speech. Pick one and stay consistent within a sentence.
Vamos a + Infinitive = Let's...
Vamos a + infinitive doubles as a soft suggestion (Let's...). Distinct from the affirmative nosotros command (Comamos = Let's eat formally).
Vamos a comer. Vamos a empezar. Vamos a ver.
Let's eat. Let's start. Let's see.
The most common everyday Let's. The formal command form (Comamos) is rare in casual speech.
Past Form: Iba A + Infinitive
For past intentions (I was going to..., often with the implication that it didn't happen), use imperfect of ir + a + infinitive.
Iba a llamarte, pero olvidé. Ibamos a salir, pero llovió.
I was going to call you, but I forgot. We were going to leave, but it rained.
Iba a + inf often comes paired with a contrastive pero (but) that explains what actually happened.
Common Mistakes with Ir a + Infinitive
Incorrect: Voy estudiar esta noche. — I'm going to study tonight. (wrong, missing a)
Correct: Voy a estudiar esta noche. — I'm going to study tonight.
The preposition a is mandatory. Voy estudiar is ungrammatical; voy a estudiar is correct.
Incorrect: Voy a estudio. (using conjugated verb) — I'm going to study. (wrong, needs infinitive)
Correct: Voy a estudiar. — I'm going to study.
After ir a, you always use the INFINITIVE (estudiar), never a conjugated form (estudio).
Incorrect: Voy a haber comido. (overusing the construction) — I will have eaten.
Correct: Habré comido. — I will have eaten.
Don't stack ir a with compound tenses unnecessarily. For future perfect, use habré + participle directly.
Past Form: Iba A + Infinitive
Past Intentions
Use imperfect of ir + a + infinitive to describe past intentions, often with the implication that the action didn't actually happen.
- Iba a llamarte, pero olvidé.
- I was going to call you, but I forgot.
- Ibamos a salir, pero llovió.
- We were going to leave, but it rained.
The pero clause usually explains what actually happened. If the action DID happen, use preterite of the action verb directly.
Reported Future (Past Perspective)
Iba a + infinitive also reports a planned future from a past perspective.
- Dijo que iba a venir.
- He said he was going to come.
- Pensaba que ibas a llegar tarde.
- I thought you were going to arrive late.
Equivalent to using conditional in reported speech (Dijo que vendría) but more conversational.
Ir a + Infinitive FAQs
- What does ir a + infinitive mean in Spanish?
- Ir a + infinitive is the equivalent of English be going to + verb. It expresses near-future plans, intentions, and predictions. Voy a estudiar = I'm going to study. Vamos a comer = We're going to eat / Let's eat.
- Do I have to include the a in ir a + infinitive?
- Yes, the a is mandatory. Voy estudiar is grammatically wrong. The correct form is Voy a estudiar. The preposition a is part of the construction and cannot be dropped.
- What's the difference between ir a + infinitive and Spanish future tense?
- Ir a + infinitive (Voy a hablar) is conversational and dominates Latin American speech for near future. Simple future (Hablaré) feels more formal and is preferred for further-out predictions. Both are correct Spanish.
- What does vamos a + infinitive mean?
- Vamos a + infinitive has two meanings: We're going to + verb (Vamos a comer = We're going to eat) AND Let's + verb (Vamos a comer = Let's eat). Context decides, and the inclusive Let's reading is extremely common.
- How do I express past intentions with ir a?
- Use the imperfect: Iba a + infinitive (I was going to + verb). Iba a llamarte, pero olvidé = I was going to call you, but I forgot. Often signals that the intention wasn't fulfilled.