B1.37 - Civil state

Estar + gerundio to talk about the future: estaré hablando; estarás organizando...

Estar + gerundio para hablar del futuro: estaré hablando; estarás organizando...

Estar + gerundio se usa también para hablar de acciones que van a pasar pronto.

(Estar + gerundio is also used to talk about actions that are going to happen soon.)

What this structure means (future in progress)

Estar (future) + gerund expresses an action that will be in progress at a specific moment in the future.

  • Think: “At that time, I’ll be in the middle of…”
  • It often appears with a time marker: mañana a las once, esta tarde, la semana que viene.
SpanishBest English equivalent
Mañana a las once estaré firmando el acta.Tomorrow at eleven I will be signing the certificate.
Esta tarde estarás hablando con el notario.This afternoon you will be talking to the notary.

How to build it (and what to check)

Formula: Subject + estar (future) + gerundio

  1. Choose estar in the future: estaré, estarás, estará, estaremos, estaréis, estarán
  2. Add the gerund (-ando / -iendo): firmando, hablando, tramitando, preparando, solicitando

Self-check: Can you insert “at that moment” in English? If yes, this structure is usually a good fit.

  • “Next week, at that time, she will be processing the visa.” → ✅ La semana que viene estará tramitando el visado.

When to use it vs. the simple future

Use…When you want to highlight…Example
Estar + gerund (future) the action in progress at a specific future time Mañana a las once estaré firmando.
Simple future the action as a fact/completion (less focus on “in progress”) Mañana firmaré el acta. (I will sign it.)
  • Contrast: Mañana a las once firmaré = you state the event.
  • Contrast: Mañana a las once estaré firmando = you zoom in on that exact time (mid-action).

Common pitfalls (and quick fixes)

  • 1) Using “ser” instead of “estar”
    Seré firmando el acta. → Estaré firmando el acta.
  • 2) Using the infinitive after estar
    Estarás tramitar el DNI. → Estarás tramitando el DNI.
  • 3) Forgetting the “future time anchor”

    In real conversation, this tense sounds most natural with a time frame:

    • Esta tarde estaré preparando los documentos.
    • Durante el proceso estaréis reuniendo certificados.

Mini checklist for conversation practice

  1. Time: When exactly? (mañana a las…, esta tarde, la semana que viene…)
  2. Estar future: estaré / estarás / estará / estaremos / estaréis / estarán
  3. Gerund: -ando / -iendo
  4. Meaning: “I/you/she… will be in the middle of doing it.”
  1. Subject + estar (future) + gerund.
VerboEjemplo
Yo estaré firmandoMañana a las once estaré firmando el acta de matrimonio. (Tomorrow at eleven I will be signing the marriage certificate.)
Tú estarás hablandoEsta tarde estarás hablando con el notario. (This afternoon you will be speaking with the notary.)
Él/Ella/Usted estará tramitandoLa semana que viene estará tramitando el DNI. (Next week he/she/you (formal) will be processing the ID card.)
Nosotros/as estaremos organizandoEn primavera estaremos organizando la boda civil. (In spring we will be organizing the civil wedding.)
Vosotros/as estaréis preparandoDurante el proceso estaréis preparando los documentos. (During the process you (plural, informal) will be preparing the documents.)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes estarán solicitandoEl mes que viene estarán solicitando el visado. (Next month they/you (plural) will be applying for the visa.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Mañana a las once ____ el acta de matrimonio en la notaría.

Tomorrow at eleven ____ the marriage certificate at the notary’s office.

2. Esta tarde, mientras tú trabajas, ____ con el notario para resolver lo del DNI.

This afternoon, while you work, ____ with the notary to sort out the ID card stuff.

3. La semana que viene ella ____ el visado porque se muda a España con su pareja.

Next week she ____ the visa because she is moving to Spain with her partner.

4. En primavera ____ la boda civil y buscando fecha en el ayuntamiento.

In spring ____ the civil wedding and looking for a date at the town hall.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences in the near future using the structure: subject + estar (future) + gerund to express an action that will be in progress at that time.

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  1. Mañana a las once firmo el acta de matrimonio.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Mañana a las once estaré firmando el acta de matrimonio.
    (Tomorrow at eleven I will be signing the marriage certificate.)
  2. Esta tarde hablas con el notario.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Esta tarde estarás hablando con el notario.
    (This afternoon you will be talking to the notary.)
  3. La semana que viene ella tramita el DNI.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    La semana que viene ella estará tramitando el DNI.
    (Next week she will be processing the ID card.)
  4. En primavera organizamos la boda civil.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    En primavera estaremos organizando la boda civil.
    (In spring we will be organizing the civil wedding.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence.

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1.
Incorrect: the periphrasis uses «estar» in the future, not «ser».
2.
Incorrect: after «estarás» a gerund (tramitando) must follow, not an infinitive (tramitar).

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