In Fluenz, we learn that the present tense can be used as a future tense but it should come to no shock that there is a tense dedicated to the future; learning an additional tense brings you another step closer to fluency and another way to impress italian speakers with your knowledge of this beautiful language.
*Before beginning to learn this verb tense, one should know how to conjugate Italian verbs (-are,-ire,-ere) in the present tense. Do not attempt any additional tenses until you have the present tense mastered, in my opinion, the building block of the language.*
Known as "Il Futuro Semplice" or "Il Tempo Futuro" depending on your source, it is a relatively easy tense to learn after some practice.
In Italian, the future tense consists of a single verb while in English we have additional words like 'will' or 'shall' and the infinitive verb.
The future tense can be replaced by the present tense when the time of the action near future.
The future tense of regular Italian verbs is formed by dropping the final 'e' and putting on the future endings.
The Future Endings are the same for all -Are, -Ire, and -Ere verbs which saves us a lot of work!
Io = o`
Tu = ai
Lui/Lei = a`
Noi = emo
Voi = ete
Loro = anno
Future Tense (Regular -ARE Verbs)
-Unique to only regular -Are verbs, the 'a' is dropped and replaced with an 'e' in addition to the specific future ending.
Ex: Parlare
Io parlero` (I WILL speak)
Tu parlerai
Lui/Lei parlera`
Noi parleremo
Voi parlerete
Loro parleranno
Ex: Aiutare
Io aiutero` (I WILL help)
Tu aiuterai
Lui/Lei aiutera`
Noi aiuteremo
Voi aiuterete
Loro aiuteranno
Future Tense (Regular -IRE Verbs)
-There is no changing to the infinitive like -are; just add those future tense endings!
Ex: Capire
Io capiro` ( I WILL understand)
Tu capirai
Lui/Lei capira`
Noi capiremo
Voi capirete
Loro capiranno
Future Tense (Regular -ERE Verbs)
-There is no changing to the infinitive like -are, just add those future tense endings!
Ex: Leggere
Io leggo` (I WILL read)
Tu leggerai
Lu/Lei leggera`
Noi leggeremo
Voi leggerete
Loro leggeranno
Bravo! You just learned the future tenses for regular Italian verbs. But it's not quite over..come on, by now you know the language always has exceptions!
Don't continue reading until you have those future endings mastered!
Verbs ending in -care and -gare add an h to the future tense.
Examples like pagare which become Io paghero` (i'll pay). Notice the h inserted to keep the same sound.
Verbs ending in -ciare and -giare drop the i in the future tense.
Examples like mangiare become Io mangero` (I'll eat). Notice the 'i' before are has been dropped and as you know, the 'a' must be changed to 'e' in the future tense. Another example is Viaggiare which can become tu viaggerai (you'll travel). Again, that 'i' has been dropped and necessary tense changes made.
Those two situations will take additional practice but it will come easier over time, especially if you master future tense conjugation for regular -are, -ire, and -ere verbs.
FINALLY...there are some irregular verbs; some verbs appear to be difficult no matter what tense because if you have mastered present tense conjugation you will see some 'repeat offenders' when it comes to irregular.
Andare becomes ANDR. Andro`, andrai`, andra`, etc
AVERE becomes AVR. Avro`, avrai, etc
BERE becomes BERR. Berro`, etc
DARE becomes DAR. daro`, etc
ESSERE becomes SAR. Saro`, etc
FARE becomes FAR. Faro`, etc
SAPERE becomes SAPR. Sapro`, etc
VEDERE becomes VEDR. Vedro`, etc
VENIRE becomes VERR. Verro`, etc.
There are obviously more irregulars but these are common ones and are verbs that you have encountered on your Fluenz journey.
Check out my other introduction lecture on another tense, "The Imperative Tense". In the near future, the next tense I am considering learning is the "Passato Remoto", a type of past-tense that is rarely taught to Italian students.
If you want a great lecture and additional help on this tense, I recommend this lecture:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX3fMk...