Talking about the future with gaan

To talk about the future in Dutch, you can put a form of _gaan_ (to go) in front of an infinitive, the basic dictionary form of a verb: _Ik ga morgen verhuizen_ (I am going to move tomorrow). Very often you simply use the present tense, the normal "now" form of the verb, with a time word: _Morgen werk ik thuis_ (I am working from home tomorrow). These two cover most of what English does with "will" and "going to".

The pattern

For plans and predictions, use a form of _gaan_ plus an infinitive at the end. When a time word already makes the future clear, the present tense is usually enough.

• The form of _gaan_ changes for the person, and the infinitive stays the same: _ik ga_, _jij gaat_, _u gaat_, _hij gaat_, _wij gaan_, _jullie gaan_.
• In a statement, _gaan_ comes second and the infinitive usually closes the sentence: _Ik ga een fiets kopen_.
• There is no _te_ in between: _Het gaat regenen_.
• Time words such as _morgen_ (tomorrow), _straks_ (later, soon), _vanavond_ (tonight) and _volgende week_ (next week) make a present-tense sentence clearly about the future.
• If you start with the time word, the verb still comes second: _Morgen ga ik_, _Morgen werk ik_ (see [inversion](#/lesson/inversion)).
• When _jij_ or _je_ comes after _gaan_, the t drops: _Ga je morgen sporten?_ ([why](#/lesson/jij-inversion)).

Examples

Why it works this way

The verb _gaan_ means go, and _gaan_ plus an infinitive works much like English "going to", minus the "to". You are on your way to an action, and the action waits at the end of the sentence. That suits plans (_Ik ga verhuizen_) and predictions (_Kijk, het gaat regenen_). For plain movement, one _gaan_ is enough: "I am going to go to the station" is just _Ik ga naar het station_.

The present tense works because Dutch verbs have no future ending. Once a time word says when, nothing else is needed. English does this too ("My train leaves at eight"), but Dutch does it far more, even for quick decisions where English says "I'll": _Ik bel je straks_.

Two English traps. First, _wil_ means want, so _Ik wil morgen komen_ is "I want to come tomorrow" (see [false friends](#/lesson/false-friends)). Second, _zullen_ looks like will, but in everyday speech it mostly does promises, suggestions and assumptions. That is the next lesson: [zullen](#/lesson/zullen).

Remember: _gaan_ is "going to" without the "to", and the real action waits at the end.

Watch out

• Not: _Ik ga kopen een fiets._ Say: _Ik ga een fiets kopen._ (the infinitive goes to the end)
• Not: _Morgen ik werk thuis._ Say: _Morgen werk ik thuis._ (the verb comes second, right after the time word)
• Not: _Het gaat te regenen._ Say: _Het gaat regenen._ (no _te_ after _gaan_)
• Not: _Gaat jij vanavond koken?_ Say: _Ga jij vanavond koken?_ (the t drops when _jij_ comes after the verb)

Quick check

1. Fill in the right form of _gaan_: _Fatima ... volgende week verhuizen._
2. Fill in the right form of _gaan_: _... je zaterdag sporten?_
3. Fix the word order: _Ik ga kopen een taart._
4. Fix the word order and keep _vrijdag_ at the start: _Vrijdag Lotte gaat boodschappen doen._

Answers

1. _gaat_ (Fatima is one person, so _gaat_ with a t)
2. _Ga_ (the t drops when _je_ comes right after the verb)
3. _Ik ga een taart kopen._ (the infinitive goes to the end)
4. _Vrijdag gaat Lotte boodschappen doen._ (the verb comes second, straight after the time word)

Use it today

Write three sentences about your weekend: two with _gaan_ plus an infinitive, like _Zaterdag ga ik fietsen_, and one with the present tense, like _Zondag werk ik niet_. Then say one of them to a colleague or neighbour tomorrow.