Learn how to express the future tense in Dutch using 'zullen + infinitive' for plans or promises and 'gaan + infinitive' for actions in the near future. This lesson covers conjugation for all personal pronouns with practical examples, helping you understand when and how to use each form correctly. Discover the subtle differences between these future constructions and their English equivalents to improve your Dutch fluency.
- Use zullen + infinitive for plans or promises.
- Use gaan + infinitive for actions in the near future.
| Persoon (Person) | Zullen (will) | Gaan (to go) |
|---|---|---|
| ik (I) | zal zingen | ga zingen |
| jij (you) | zult zingen | gaat zingen |
| hij/zij/het (he/she/it) | zal zingen | gaat zingen |
| wij (we) | zullen zingen | gaan zingen |
| jullie (you (plural)) | zullen zingen | gaan zingen |
| zij (they) | zullen zingen | gaan zingen |
Exercise 1: Toekomende tijd (zullen, gaan)
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
gaat, zullen, Zullen, ga
1.
Hij ... straks zijn viool oefenen.
(He is going to practise his violin shortly.)
2.
Wij ... morgen naar een concert gaan.
(We will go to a concert tomorrow.)
3.
... we samen naar de opera gaan?
(Shall we go to the opera together?)
4.
We ... samen naar een festival gaan.
(We will go to a festival together.)
5.
Ze ... popmuziek spelen op het festival.
(They will play pop music at the festival.)
6.
De muzikant ... een nieuw lied zingen.
(The musician is going to sing a new song.)
7.
Ik ... tickets kopen voor de musical.
(I am going to buy tickets for the musical.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that uses the future tense correctly with 'will' or 'going to' + infinitive.
1.
Double infinitive is incorrect; only one conjugated verb may precede the infinitive.
Although 'going to + infinitive' indicates the near future, 'will' fits better here for a planned moment of purchase.
2.
Incorrect word order; the infinitive 'practice' must come directly after 'will' without 'going to'.
Incorrect placement of 'will'; this verb should not be between subject and infinitive in this construction.
3.
Incorrect combination; you don’t use 'going to' and 'will' together with two infinitives in one sentence.
This construction is grammatically incorrect; 'go' should not be between 'will' and the infinitive.
4.
Incomplete sentence; 'will' always requires an infinitive after it to form the future.
