UNIT FOURTEEN
Unit 14 The future tense
Referring to the future in German
Thefuture tensein German is formed with the verb werden:Wirstdu in Zukunft öfters im Ausland arbeiten?
Will you be working abroad more often in future?Wir werdenuns wahrscheinlichverspäten.
We will probably be delayed.Note that there is also another less frequently used future tense in German,
thefuture perfect tense. For more details see pages 104–5.Formation of the future tense
The future tense is constructed with the present tense form of the auxil-
iary verb werden+the infinitiveof the relevant verb:Ichwerdeden Zug versäumen. I shall/will miss the train.
Duwirstdich morgen besser fühlen. You will feel better tomorrow.
WerdenSie zur Party kommen? Will you come to the party?
Erwirddas gleich erledigen. He will deal with it at once.Wir werdenheuteanfangen. We shall/will start today.
Ihrwerdetalleserfahren. You will find out everything.
Werden Sie tanzen gehen? Will you go dancing?
Was werdensiesagen? What will they say?Note that werdenis an irregular verb and changes its stem vowel in the
duander/sie/esforms.