Talking About the Future (zullen, gaan)
Talking About the Future (zullen, gaan)
Dutch has a future tense with zullen but uses it far less than English uses 'will'. Most future statements are simply present tense with a time word, and plans take gaan — leaving zullen for promises, predictions and offers.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
The present tense already covers most future meaning
Ik ga morgen naar Amsterdam.
I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow.
If a time expression makes the future clear, Dutch simply uses the present: Ik werk volgende week, De trein vertrekt om acht uur. English does this too with scheduled events ('the train leaves at eight'), but extends it much less freely — 'I work next week' sounds odd where Dutch Ik werk volgende week is entirely natural. Reaching for a future form when the present will do is a hallmark of English-influenced Dutch.
gaan + infinitive for plans and intentions
Ik ga een huis kopen.
I'm going to buy a house.
This is the closest match to English 'going to', and it is used the same way: for things you intend or have arranged. The infinitive goes to the end of the clause, as always. One caveat — gaan is not normally combined with verbs of motion, so 'I'm going to go' is just Ik ga, not 'ik ga gaan'.
zullen for promises, predictions and offers
Ik zal je helpen. Zal ik het raam openen?
I'll help you. Shall I open the window?
zullen carries commitment rather than mere futurity: making a promise (Ik zal het doen), predicting (Het zal wel regenen), or offering and suggesting in question form (Zal ik ...? Zullen we ...?). That question use is the direct equivalent of English 'shall', which is fading in English but thriving in Dutch — Zullen we gaan? is the standard way to propose anything. Its past form zou opens the door to conditionals at the next level.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
- English
- will / shall
- English
- I will ...
- English
- Shall I ... ?
- English
- Shall we ... ?
- English
- I'm going to do ...
- English
- next week
- English
- later on / shortly
- English
- later
- English
- soon
- English
- maybe
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