Future tense with gaan

1. What does gaan + infinitive mean?

You use gaan + infinitive to talk about a planned or near future.

• Ik ga koken. – I am going to cook. (I have this plan.)
• Wij gaan sporten. – We are going to do sports.

Think of English “to be going to + verb”. The idea is very similar.

2. The structure: where does each word go?

The structure is always the same:

• subject (ik, jij, hij, wij, …)
• conjugated gaan (ga, gaat, gaan)
• … other words …
• infinitive at the end (koken, werken, studeren)

Pattern:

subject + gaan (conjugated) + … + infinitive

• Ik ga vanavond pasta koken.
• Wij gaan morgen thuis werken.
• Hij gaat in juli op vakantie.

The infinitive (the second verb) always goes to the end of the sentence.

3. Conjugation: choosing ga, gaat, gaan

Only gaan changes. The infinitive after it stays in the basic form.

• After ga / gaat / gaan the next verb is always in the infinitive: koken, werken, studeren, reizen, …

4. Word order: typical mistakes to avoid

Pay attention to two things:

1. Do not put two conjugated verbs.
2. Keep the infinitive at the end.

• Ik ga kook vanavond. → Ik ga vanavond koken.
• Wij gaan werken morgen thuis. → Wij gaan morgen thuis werken.
• Hij gaat bellen straks de klant. → Hij gaat straks de klant bellen.

The information in the middle can change position (time, place, object), but the infinitive stays at the end.

5. When do you choose gaan + infinitive?

Use gaan + infinitive for:

• Personal plans (you decided it):
  Ik ga vanavond lezen.
• Fixed arrangements in the near future:
  Wij gaan morgen een online meeting hebben.
• Season / month plans (already in your mind):
  In juli ga ik drie weken op vakantie.

For A1 level, it is safe to use gaan + infinitive for most future plans.

6. Gaan + infinitive vs. present tense for future

In Dutch, the present tense can also express the future.

• Ik werk morgen thuis. (present form, future meaning)
• Ik ga morgen thuis werken. (gaan + infinitive)

At A1, this is a simple guideline:

• Use present tense for very fixed things (timetable, official schedule).
  Het examen is volgende week.
• Use gaan + infinitive for your own plans and arrangements.
  Ik ga volgende week voor het examen studeren.

7. Step-by-step self check

1. Do I really have a future idea?
   If yes → continue. If not, you probably need simple present.
2. Did I choose the correct form of gaan?
   • ik → ga
   • jij / u / hij / zij / het → gaat
   • wij / jullie / zij → gaan
3. Is the second verb in infinitive?
   • koken, werken, studeren, reizen, bellen, …
   • Not: kookt, werkt, studeert
4. Is the infinitive at the end of the sentence?
   • Correct: Ik ga morgen in de stad winkelen.
   • Wrong: Ik ga winkelen morgen in de stad. (not wrong in meaning, but for A1, train yourself to place the infinitive at the end)

8. Mini practice: can you spot the correct version?

• 1) Ik ga schrijf een e-mail.
  Ik ga een e-mail schrijven.
• 2) Hij ga morgen sporten.
  Hij gaat morgen sporten.
• 3) Wij gaat in juni op vakantie.
  Wij gaan in juni op vakantie.

9. What should you pay attention to?

• Only gaan is conjugated, the other verb stays in infinitive.
• Infinitive at the end of the clause/sentence.
• Use it for plans and near future, especially your own actions.
• Compare with English “going to” to help yourself remember.

If these points feel clear, you are ready to use gaan + infinitive in conversation.