Futuro simple vs. Condicional simple
Future vs. conditional in Spanish grammar
The Spanish future tense (el futuro simple) and the conditional tense (el condicional simple) both talk about future actions, but with one key difference: the future tense refers to the concrete whereas the conditional refers to the hypothetical.
Learn the difference between the future and the conditional in Spanish grammar with Lingolia, then put your knowledge to the test in the free exercises.
Contents
Las plantas del huerto están estupendas. A finales de verano los tomates estarán maduros y prepararé ensaladas riquísimas con ellos.
El otro día pillé al vecino mirando por encima de la valla. Estaría admirando mis preciosas tomateras. Si es así, seguro que estará deseando probar los tomates. Tienen tan buena pinta que a mí también me encantaría saborearlos ya.
En realidad es muy simpático, así que le daré algunos. ¡Imagino que cosecharé suficientes!
What’s the difference between the future and the conditional in Spanish?
Although the Spanish future and conditional tenses have similar conjugations, they have different meanings.
We use the future simple to express future actions with a degree of certainty, whereas we use the conditional to talk about hypothetical situations.
To give you a rough idea of the difference, we can compare the Spanish future simple to the English will, and the condicional simple to the English would. Read on to learn about the differences in more detail.
Plan or wish?
One way to choose between the future and the conditional is to decide whether we are talking about a plan or a wish.
Future
The future simple expresses plans and arrangements that the speaker considers certain or fixed.
- Examples:
- A finales de verano los tomates estarán maduros. The tomatoes will be ripe by the end of summer.
- Prepararé ensaladas riquísimas con ellos. I’m going to make delicious salads with them.
Conditional
The conditional expresses the speaker’s wish or desire to do something that is not possible.
- Example:
- A mí también me encantaría saborear los tomatoes ya. I would love to taste the tomatoes too.
Assumption or imagination?
Another way to choose between the future and the conditional is to decide if we are making an assumption or a talking about a hypothetical situation.
Future
Use the future simple to make assumptions and predictions about the present and the future.
- Examples:
- Seguro que estará deseando probar los tomates. I’m sure he’s dying to try the tomatoes.
- Imagino que cosecharé suficientes. I guess that I’ll harvest enough.
Conditional
The conditional talks about hypothetical and imaginary scenarios.
- Example:
- Estaría admirando mis preciosas tomates. He must have been admiring my beautiful tomatoes.
