Introduction
One of the most common mistakes Spanish learners make when discussing the future is mixing two different ways of expressing what is going to happen. Many beginners struggle with the difference between the simple future tense and the near future construction, often trying to combine both forms in a single phrase. This leads to awkward and incorrect sentences like será va a ser, which violates basic Spanish grammar rules. Understanding why this combination doesn’t work is crucial for achieving fluency and speaking Spanish naturally. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the two legitimate ways to express the future in Spanish, explain why mixing them is incorrect, and provide you with clear examples to help you master this essential grammar concept.
Understanding the Two Ways to Express the Future
The Simple Future Tense: Será
The first way to express the future in Spanish is the simple future tense, known in Spanish as el futuro simple. This tense is formed by taking the infinitive verb and adding specific endings that vary depending on the subject pronoun. For example, the verb ser (to be) becomes será in the third person singular form, which means he, she, it, or you (formal) will be.
Here are some examples of the futuro simple:
Mañana será un día hermoso. (Tomorrow will be a beautiful day.)
Yo hablaré con el director. (I will speak with the director.)
Ellos viajarán a México el próximo mes. (They will travel to Mexico next month.)
¿Dónde estarás esta noche? (Where will you be tonight?)
The futuro simple is considered formal and is commonly used in written Spanish, official announcements, and when making predictions or promises about the future. It expresses an action that will happen at a specific point in time or in a distant future.
The Near Future Construction: Va a Ser
The second way to express the future in Spanish is the near future construction, which in Spanish is called ir a + infinitive. This construction uses the present tense of the verb ir (to go) followed by the preposition a and then the infinitive form of another verb. It indicates an action that will happen very soon or in the immediate future.
Here are examples of the ir a + infinitive construction:
Voy a ir al cine esta tarde. (I am going to go to the cinema this afternoon.)
Ella va a llamarte mañana. (She is going to call you tomorrow.)
Nosotros vamos a comer en un restaurante nuevo. (We are going to eat at a new restaurant.)
¿Vas a venir a la fiesta? (Are you going to come to the party?)
The ir a + infinitive construction is more commonly used in spoken Spanish and everyday conversation. It feels more immediate and personal than the futuro simple. Native Spanish speakers often prefer this construction when talking about near-future events, especially in informal contexts.
Why Será Va a Ser Is Grammatically Incorrect
The Core Problem: Two Complete Future Expressions
The phrase será va a ser is wrong because it combines two complete and independent ways of expressing the future. When you say será, you have already expressed a complete future meaning using the futuro simple. When you add va a ser immediately after, you are essentially saying the same thing twice using two different grammatical structures. This is redundant and violates Spanish syntax rules.
Think of it this way: será alone means will be, and va a ser also means will be or is going to be. Combining them would be like saying in English will be is going to be, which makes no grammatical sense.
Verb Conjugation Overlap
Another reason será va a ser doesn’t work is that both parts of this phrase are already conjugated verb forms. In Spanish, you cannot have two conjugated verbs standing directly next to each other without a connecting word like que, y, o, pero, or without one verb being in the infinitive form. The futuro simple tense provides the conjugation you need, and va a ser attempts to provide another conjugation immediately after, creating a grammatical conflict.
In proper Spanish grammar, you must choose one structure or the other, never both simultaneously.
The Correct Forms: Será or Va a Ser
Using Será for the Simple Future
If you want to use the futuro simple, simply use será by itself. This is the correct way to express a future action in formal Spanish or when you want to indicate certainty about something that will happen.
Examples of correct usage:
Será interesante visitar ese museo. (It will be interesting to visit that museum.)
La reunión será a las tres de la tarde. (The meeting will be at three in the afternoon.)
No será fácil terminar este proyecto a tiempo. (It will not be easy to finish this project on time.)
The futuro simple is especially common in Spanish news reports, literary texts, formal declarations, and when making generalizations about the future. You will hear it frequently in professional settings and academic contexts.
Using Va a Ser for the Near Future
If you want to use the ir a + infinitive construction, use va a ser in this exact form. This expression is perfect for discussing something that you believe will happen soon or for plans you have already made.
Examples of correct usage:
Va a ser un día muy especial. (It is going to be a very special day.)
La película va a ser excelente. (The movie is going to be excellent.)
Estoy seguro de que va a ser difícil encontrar un taxi ahora. (I am sure it is going to be difficult to find a taxi now.)
Native speakers frequently use va a ser in casual conversations because it sounds natural and conveys immediacy. Children often use this construction, and you will hear it in television shows, movies, and everyday dialogue throughout Spanish-speaking countries.
When to Use Each Form
Usar Será in Formal and Written Contexts
Choose será when you are writing formal documents, giving official announcements, making predictions, or speaking in professional environments. The futuro simple conveys certainty and formality.
Consider these scenarios where será is more appropriate:
Official announcements: La ceremonia será en la catedral el próximo sábado. (The ceremony will be in the cathedral next Saturday.)
Predictions: Creo que será un invierno muy frío. (I think it will be a very cold winter.)
Promises: Te prometo que será diferente. (I promise it will be different.)
General truths about the future: En el futuro, habrá más tecnología. (In the future, there will be more technology.)
Usar Va a Ser in Informal and Spoken Contexts
Choose va a ser when you are speaking casually, discussing immediate plans, or expressing what you think will happen in the near future. The ir a + infinitive construction feels more natural in everyday Spanish.
Consider these scenarios where va a ser is more appropriate:
Personal plans: Voy a ser abogado cuando sea mayor. (I am going to be a lawyer when I grow up.)
Immediate expectations: Va a ser difícil llegar a tiempo. (It is going to be difficult to arrive on time.)
Casual predictions: Va a ser un fin de semana fantástico. (It is going to be a fantastic weekend.)
Daily conversation: ¿Qué va a ser del proyecto? (What is going to happen with the project?)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mixing Both Forms in a Single Sentence
The most common error is attempting to use both será and va a ser in the same sentence, as we have discussed. This happens when learners are uncertain about which form is correct and try to use both to be safe. This actually creates an ungrammatical sentence that native speakers will immediately recognize as incorrect.
Incorrect: Será va a ser un año memorable.
Correct: Será un año memorable. (It will be a memorable year.)
Correct: Va a ser un año memorable. (It is going to be a memorable year.)
Confusing Conjugation Requirements
Another common mistake is not properly conjugating the ir a + infinitive construction. Remember that only the verb ir should be conjugated in the present tense, while the following verb must remain in the infinitive form.
Incorrect: Va a somos amigos. (Mixing conjugation incorrectly)
Correct: Vamos a ser amigos. (We are going to be friends.)
The same applies when using different subject pronouns:
Yo voy a ser. (I am going to be.)
Tú vas a ser. (You are going to be.)
Él, ella va a ser. (He, she is going to be.)
Nosotros vamos a ser. (We are going to be.)
Vosotros vais a ser. (You all are going to be.) [Spain only]
Ellos, ellas van a ser. (They are going to be.)
Using the Wrong Verb Form After Ir a
A critical error is using a conjugated verb form after ir a instead of the infinitive. This breaks the grammatical structure of the ir a + infinitive construction.
Incorrect: Voy a soy feliz. (Using a conjugated form)
Correct: Voy a ser feliz. (I am going to be happy.)
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between será and va a ser is fundamental for any Spanish learner who wants to communicate effectively about future events. The phrase será va a ser is incorrect because it redundantly combines two complete future expressions that should never appear together in the same phrase. By mastering the futuro simple for formal contexts and the ir a + infinitive construction for informal speech, you will dramatically improve your Spanish communication skills. Remember to choose será when you want to sound formal or make predictions, and select va a ser when you are speaking casually or discussing near-future events. With consistent practice and awareness of these distinctions, this grammar rule will become second nature, and you will speak Spanish with increased confidence and correctness.
