budu + Infinitive

Imperfective Analytical Future

Level 3

The analytical future tense in Czech is formed using the future forms of the verb být (to be) plus the infinitive of an imperfective verb. It translates to "will be doing" something (continuous action) or simply "will do" something when referring to future habits, routines, or general states.

How It Works

To build this future tense, combine the conjugated auxiliary verb with an unchanged infinitive. The infinitive never changes its ending to match the subject (do not say já budu pracuju):

  • Já budu pracovat (I will work / will be working)
  • Ty budeš pracovat (You will work / will be working)
  • On/ona/to bude pracovat (He/she/it will work / will be working)
  • My budeme pracovat (We will work / will be working)
  • Vy budete pracovat (You will work / will be working - plural/formal)
  • Oni budou pracovat (They will work / will be working)

Note: Because Czech is a pro-drop language, subject pronouns (Já, Ty, etc.) are typically dropped in everyday speech unless you want to add emphasis or contrast subjects. You will usually just say 'Budu pracovat'.

While it often translates to the English continuous "will be doing", it also translates to the simple "will do" for future habits, routines, or general states (e.g., Budu tam pracovat každý den = I will work there every day).

Key Rules:

  • Negation: The negative prefix ne- attaches directly to the auxiliary verb (nebudu, nebudeš), not to the infinitive. In standard grammar, negation applies to the auxiliary verb (e.g., nebudu pracovat), though in casual speech you might occasionally hear the infinitive negated for contrastive emphasis (e.g., budu nedělat nic).
  • Word Order & Clitics: Because Czech word order is flexible, the auxiliary verb and the infinitive do not have to be glued together. Many other words (like adverbs or objects) can separate them (e.g., V sobotu budu spát celý den). Additionally, reflexive pronouns (se/si) are clitics that must occupy the strict second position in the clause. This means they often separate the auxiliary and the infinitive (e.g., Budu se učit), or precede the auxiliary if another word starts the sentence (e.g., Já se budu učit).
  • Aspect Restriction: Never use this pattern with perfective verbs. Perfective verbs inherently express the future through their present tense forms (see perfective present with future meaning).
  • Motion Verbs: Determinate motion verbs (such as jít, jet, letět, běžet) do not use budu. They form their future using prefixes (e.g., půjdu, pojedu, poletím, poběžím) (see suppletive future of motion verbs). However, indeterminate motion verbs (like chodit or jezdit) DO use this pattern (e.g., Budu jezdit vlakem).
  • Standalone "To Be": To say "I will be," simply use budu. Do not say budu být.

Examples (4)

  1. Zítra budu celý den pracovat z domova.

    Tomorrow I'll be working from home all day.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow I-will whole day to-work from home.

    Demonstrates an ongoing, continuous action in the future.

  2. Co budeš dělat o víkendu?

    What will you be doing at the weekend?

    Word by Word: What you-will to-do at weekend?

    A common question asking about future processes or plans.

  3. Dnes večer nebudu vařit.

    This evening I am not going to cook.

    Word by Word: Today evening I-will-not to-cook.

    Shows correct negation: the prefix ne- is attached to the auxiliary verb (nebudu), not the infinitive.

  4. Budeme se učit česky.

    We will be studying Czech.

    Word by Word: We-will ourselves to-teach Czech.

    Shows the reflexive pronoun (se) occupying the strict second position in the clause, immediately following the first word (Budeme).

Common Mistakes

  • Stacking 'budu' with a perfective verb.

    Zítra to budu udělat.
    Zítra to udělám.

    Perfective verbs already express the future through their present tense conjugation. Adding 'budu' is a grammatical contradiction.

  • Using 'budu' with determinate motion verbs.

    Zítra budu jít do kina.
    Zítra půjdu do kina.

    Determinate motion verbs (like 'jít', 'jet', 'letět', 'běžet') form their future using prefixes (půjdu, pojedu, poletím, poběžím), not with 'budu'. Indeterminate motion verbs (like 'chodit' or 'jezdit'), however, do use the 'budu' pattern.

  • Negating the infinitive instead of the auxiliary verb.

    Budu nepracovat.
    Nebudu pracovat.

    In standard grammar, the negative prefix ne- must attach to the conjugated auxiliary verb (nebudu), not to the infinitive. While you might hear a negated infinitive for contrastive emphasis in casual speech, standard negation applies to the auxiliary verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

budu + InfinitiveLevel 3Imperfective Analytical Future

Learn This First

To form the imperfective analytical future, you need to know the future forms of the verb 'být' (budu, budeš...) which act as an auxiliary. You must also understand the concept of verbal aspect, as this construction is exclusively used with imperfective infinitives. Finally, knowing how to negate verbs is necessary to form negative future statements.

Words in This Pattern