Lesson 32 – Future Tense

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into the future tense in Polish. There are two ways to express the future: simple future (for perfective verbs) and compound future (for imperfective verbs). By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand how to form and use both types of future tense, and you’ll be able to confidently talk about your future plans. Let’s get started!

Why Learn the Future Tense?

The future tense is essential for:

• Talking about plans and intentions.
• Making promises or predictions.
• Discussing ongoing or repeated future actions.

1. Simple Future (Perfective Verbs)

Perfective verbs imply a completed action in the future. To form the simple future, use the perfective verb in its conjugated form.

Examples:

• Kupię samochód. – I will buy a car.
• Zadzwonię do ciebie. – I will call you.
• Zjem obiad. – I will eat lunch.

Grammar Notes:

• Perfective verbs already include the idea of completion, so they do not need auxiliary verbs.
• Conjugate the verb based on the subject (e.g., ja kupię, ty kupisz, on/ona kupi).

2. Compound Future (Imperfective Verbs)

For ongoing or repeated future actions, use the auxiliary verb będę + infinitive (imperfective verb).

Examples:

• Będę mówić po polsku. – I will speak Polish.
• Będziemy oglądać film. – We will watch a movie.
• Będą czekać na nas. – They will be waiting for us.

Grammar Notes:

• Use będę + infinitive for actions that will happen over time or repeatedly.
• The auxiliary verb będę changes based on the subject (e.g., będę, będziesz, będzie).

Using the Future Tense in Sentences

Let’s see how the future tense works in real-life sentences:

1. Simple Future:
   • Kupię nowy telefon. – I will buy a new phone.
   • Zrobimy zakupy jutro. – We will do the shopping tomorrow.
2. Compound Future:
   • Będę uczyć się polskiego. – I will be learning Polish.
   • Będziemy mieszkać w Warszawie. – We will be living in Warsaw.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct future tense form:
   • Ja ___ (buy – perfective) nowy samochód.
   • Ona ___ (live – imperfective) w Krakowie.
   • My ___ (learn – imperfective) polskiego.
   • Oni ___ (travel – imperfective) po Europie.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I will call you tomorrow. (perfective)
   • She will be reading a book. (imperfective)
   • We will eat dinner at seven. (perfective)
   • They will be waiting for us. (imperfective)
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences about your future plans. Use both simple and compound future tenses. For example:
   • Kupię bilet do Polski. – I will buy a ticket to Poland.
   • Będę mieszkać w Warszawie. – I will be living in Warsaw.

Listening Practice

To improve your listening skills, try listening to Polish podcasts like:

• Real Polish (realpolish.pl)
• Polski Daily (polskidaily.pl)

These podcasts feature native speakers using the future tense in real conversations, which will help you get used to natural pronunciation and intonation.

Cultural Tip: Planning in Poland

In Poland, planning ahead is common, especially for events like holidays, weddings, and family gatherings. Poles often use the future tense to discuss their plans and intentions. For example:

• Będziemy świętować Boże Narodzenie z rodziną. – We will celebrate Christmas with family.
• Kupię prezenty na urodziny. – I will buy birthday gifts.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using the future tense. Include examples of both simple and compound future.
2. Practice saying these sentences out loud. Focus on pronunciation and fluency.
3. Bonus: Record yourself talking about your future plans and listen back to identify areas for improvement.

That’s it for Lesson 32! You’ve now mastered the future tense in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be talking about your plans and predictions like a pro. Do zobaczenia! 😊