what is it?
Futur I is one of two future tenses in German. It is formed with a conjugated form of werden and an infinitive at the end of the clause. It is used to make predictions, express promises, state resolutions, and — combined with wohl — to voice assumptions about the present or future. It is not, however, the default way to talk about scheduled or planned events: for those, German strongly prefers the present tense with a time adverb.
when to use it
Predictions — when you assert that something will happen, especially without a concrete plan behind it. Example: «Das wird schwierig sein.»
Promises and resolutions — when you commit to doing something. Example: «Ich werde dich nie vergessen.»
Assumptions with wohl — adding wohl softens the statement into a guess or supposition. Example: «Er wird wohl noch im Büro sein.»
Scheduled events — use the present tense instead — when a future event is already planned or on a schedule, German uses the present tense with a time adverb: «Morgen fahre ich nach Köln.» Futur I here would sound unnatural or overly emphatic.
formation
The structure is straightforward: conjugate werden to agree with the subject, then place the infinitive of the main verb at the very end of the clause.
Formula: werden (conjugated) + infinitive (end of clause)
| pronoun | werden | example with kommen |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | Ich werde kommen. |
| du | wirst | Du wirst kommen. |
| er / sie / es | wird | Er wird kommen. |
| wir | werden | Wir werden kommen. |
| ihr | werdet | Ihr werdet kommen. |
| sie / Sie | werden | Sie werden kommen. |
In a subordinate clause, werden moves to the end and follows the infinitive: «Ich glaube, dass er kommen wird.»
examples in context
common pitfalls
Conjugating both verbs — only werden is conjugated. The main verb stays as a bare infinitive. «✗ Ich werde fahre» is wrong; the correct form is «✓ Ich werde fahren.»
Overusing Futur I for scheduled events — when a future event is already arranged or follows a timetable, German speakers use the present tense with a time adverb. «Morgen fahre ich nach Köln» is the natural choice; reaching for Futur I in these contexts marks you as a non-native speaker.
Using wollen as a future auxiliary — English «will» looks like German «wollen», but wollen means «to want to», not «will». «✗ Ich will morgen arbeiten» (as a plain prediction) is a false friend; use «✓ Ich werde morgen arbeiten» instead. (Using wollen is only correct when you genuinely mean «I want to work tomorrow.»)
Quick check: if you can replace your future sentence with a present-tense verb plus a time adverb and it still sounds natural, that is almost certainly the better choice in German.
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
Laut Stundenplan ___ das neue Seminar über Projektmanagement nächsten Montag um 9 Uhr. (beginnen)
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.