The compound future

Talking about tomorrow without learning a new conjugation.

There are two ways to talk about the future in Russian, but the easy one — the compound future — uses the verb you already know. Conjugate быть in the future, then add an infinitive.

быть in the future

The future of быть is conjugated like a regular present-tense verb: - я буду - ты будешь - он будет / она будет - мы будем - вы будете - они будут

Compound future = быть + infinitive

Add any infinitive after the conjugated быть to express future actions: Я буду читать = I will read / I will be reading. Они будут работать = They will work.

Future of 'to be' alone

Just use the conjugated form. Я буду дома = I will be at home. Анна будет студенткой = Anna will be a student. (Note: professions go in the instrumental case in the future. We'll cover instrumental in lesson 16.)

Imperfective vs perfective — preview

Russian has two 'aspects' of every verb: imperfective (the process) and perfective (the result). Compound future uses the imperfective. Perfective verbs have their own future formed differently — coming in B1.

Examples

Я буду читать книгу.

I will read a book.

Завтра мы будем работать.

Tomorrow we will work.

Что ты будешь делать вечером?

What will you do in the evening?

Они будут говорить по-русски.

They will speak Russian.

Я буду дома.

I will be at home.

Анна не будет работать.

Anna won't work.

не goes before будет, not before the infinitive.