10K+ students - 4.8/5
Learn with a teacher Learning materials included Practise conversation

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the verb "estar" in future tense combined with gerunds like "completando" (completing) and "aprendiendo" (learning) to describe ongoing actions at a specific future moment, such as "Yo estaré completando el curso" or "Tú estarás aprendiendo nuevas habilidades."
  1. The structure is "estar" + the verb in the gerund (ando, iendo...)
  2. The verb "Estar" is conjugated in the simple future.
  3. The most common use is in the present, but it can also be used in the simple future to talk about actions planned for a specific moment in the future.
Estar en futuro (To be in the future)Verbos (Verbs)Ejemplos (Examples)
EstaréCompletarYo estaré completando el curso de matemáticas.
EstarásAprenderTú estarás aprendiendo nuevas habilidades.
EstaráTrabajarÉl estará trabajando en el aula mañana.
EstaremosEstudiarNosotros estaremos estudiando para el examen final.
EstaréisEnseñarVosotros estaréis enseñando en la academia.
EstaránInvestigarEllos estarán investigando en el laboratorio.

Exercise 1: El verbo "Estar"+ Gerundio para hablar del futuro

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

estaréis preparando, estaréis aprendiendo, estarás ganando, estaremos estudiando, estará completando, estaré pagando, estaremos haciendo, estarán trabajando

1. Preparar:
Ustedes ... los exámenes finales.
(You will be preparing the final exams.)
2. Ganar experiencia:
Tú ... experiencia en tus prácticas
(You will be gaining experience in your work placement)
3. Trabajar:
Ellos ... en el aula del colegio.
(They will be working in the classroom at school.)
4. Pagar:
Yo ... la matrícula esta semana.
(I will be paying the tuition fee this week.)
5. Aprender:
Vosotros ... nuevas habilidades académicas.
(You will be learning new academic skills.)
6. Estudiar:
Nosotros ... en la academia toda la tarde.
(We will be studying at the academy all afternoon.)
7. Hacer prácticas:
En septiembre nosotros ... las prácticas escolares.
(In September we will be doing the school placements.)
8. Completar:
Ella ... su curso en una hora.
(She will be finishing her course in an hour.)

Using the Verb Estar + Gerund to Talk About the Future

This lesson focuses on how to express ongoing actions that will be happening at a specific moment in the future in Spanish. It teaches the structure of the verb estar conjugated in the simple future tense combined with a gerund (verbs ending in -ando or -iendo) to describe these actions.

What You Will Learn

  • Conjugation of estar in the simple future tense (e.g., estaré, estarás, estará, etc.).
  • How to form gerunds in Spanish and use them with estar.
  • Examples of common verbs used with this structure to describe future ongoing activities.
  • Understanding the difference between the usual present continuous and this future continuous form.

Examples from the Table

  • Yo estaré completando el curso de matemáticas. (I will be completing the math course.)
  • Tú estarás aprendiendo nuevas habilidades. (You will be learning new skills.)
  • Él estará trabajando en el aula mañana. (He will be working in the classroom tomorrow.)
  • Nosotros estaremos estudiando para el examen final. (We will be studying for the final exam.)
  • Vosotros estaréis enseñando en la academia. (You all will be teaching at the academy.)
  • Ellos estarán investigando en el laboratorio. (They will be investigating in the laboratory.)

Key Points to Remember

The formula for this tense is:
Estar (future simple) + verb in gerund form (ending in -ando, -iendo)

Although the present continuous tense is more commonly used for ongoing actions, the future continuous form with estar is very useful for talking about actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.

Comparing Spanish and English Expressions

In English, the future continuous is formed with will be + verb ending in -ing, for example, "I will be studying." Spanish uses a similar structure with estar conjugated in the future tense plus the gerund, e.g., estaré estudiando. This similarity can make it easier to grasp the concept for English speakers learning Spanish.

Useful phrases and words to note:

  • Estaré – I will be
  • Estarás – You (singular informal) will be
  • Estará – He/She/You (formal) will be
  • Estaremos – We will be
  • Estaréis – You (plural informal) will be
  • Estarán – They/You (plural formal) will be
  • Gerund endings: -ando for -ar verbs (e.g., trabajando - working), -iendo for -er/-ir verbs (e.g., aprendiendo - learning)

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage