The pattern
For plans and predictions, use a form of gaan plus an infinitive at the end. When a time word already makes the future clear, the present tense is usually enough.
- The form of gaan changes for the person, and the infinitive stays the same: ik ga, jij gaat, u gaat, hij gaat, wij gaan, jullie gaan.
- In a statement, gaan comes second and the infinitive usually closes the sentence: Ik ga een fiets kopen.
- There is no te in between: Het gaat regenen.
- Time words such as morgen (tomorrow), straks (later, soon), vanavond (tonight) and volgende week (next week) make a present-tense sentence clearly about the future.
- If you start with the time word, the verb still comes second: Morgen ga ik, Morgen werk ik (see inversion).
- When jij or je comes after gaan, the t drops: Ga je morgen sporten? (why).
Examples
| Ik ga morgen verhuizen. | I am going to move tomorrow. |
| Het gaat vanmiddag regenen. | It is going to rain this afternoon. |
| Mei en Bas gaan vanavond pizza eten. | Mei and Bas are going to eat pizza tonight. |
| Gaan jullie volgend jaar een huis kopen? | Are you going to buy a house next year? |
| Dat gaat niet lukken. | That is not going to work. |
| Morgen werk ik thuis. | I am working from home tomorrow. |
| Priya vliegt vrijdag naar India. | Priya is flying to India on Friday. |
| Ik bel je straks. | I will call you later. |
Why it works this way
The verb gaan means go, and gaan plus an infinitive works much like English "going to", minus the "to". You are on your way to an action, and the action waits at the end of the sentence. That suits plans (Ik ga verhuizen) and predictions (Kijk, het gaat regenen). For plain movement, one gaan is enough: "I am going to go to the station" is just Ik ga naar het station.
The present tense works because Dutch verbs have no future ending. Once a time word says when, nothing else is needed. English does this too ("My train leaves at eight"), but Dutch does it far more, even for quick decisions where English says "I'll": Ik bel je straks.
Two English traps. First, wil means want, so Ik wil morgen komen is "I want to come tomorrow" (see false friends). Second, zullen looks like will, but in everyday speech it mostly does promises, suggestions and assumptions. That is the next lesson: zullen.
Remember: gaan is "going to" without the "to", and the real action waits at the end.
Watch out
FoutIk ga kopen een fiets.
GoedIk ga een fiets kopen.
the infinitive goes to the end
FoutMorgen ik werk thuis.
GoedMorgen werk ik thuis.
the verb comes second, right after the time word
FoutHet gaat te regenen.
GoedHet gaat regenen.
no te after gaan
FoutGaat jij vanavond koken?
GoedGa jij vanavond koken?
the t drops when jij comes after the verb
Quick check
- Fill in the right form of gaan: Fatima ... volgende week verhuizen.
- Fill in the right form of gaan: ... je zaterdag sporten?
- Fix the word order: Ik ga kopen een taart.
- Fix the word order and keep vrijdag at the start: Vrijdag Lotte gaat boodschappen doen.
Toon de antwoorden
- gaat (Fatima is one person, so gaat with a t)
- Ga (the t drops when je comes right after the verb)
- Ik ga een taart kopen. (the infinitive goes to the end)
- Vrijdag gaat Lotte boodschappen doen. (the verb comes second, straight after the time word)
Use it today
Write three sentences about your weekend: two with gaan plus an infinitive, like Zaterdag ga ik fietsen, and one with the present tense, like Zondag werk ik niet. Then say one of them to a colleague or neighbour tomorrow.