akan + Verb

Future or Prediction with Akan

Level 1

akan + verb = will [do something]. It is the standard way to talk about the future in formal and neutral Indonesian.

How It Works

The word akan functions as an auxiliary (helping) word. It is placed directly before the verb to indicate future time.

Key characteristics include:

  • Placement: It always comes before the verb phrase.
  • Negation: To say 'will not', use tidak akan. If you want to say something is 'not yet going to' happen, use belum akan.
  • Optionality: In Indonesian, akan is often dropped if the time is already clear from context or a time adverb (like besok or nanti).
  • Register: It is the standard choice for formal writing. In everyday spoken Indonesian, speakers usually prefer mau or the informal bakal.
  • Formal Alternatives: In very formal or literary contexts, you may see hendak used instead of akan.
  • Prepositional Use: In formal Indonesian, akan can also function as a preposition meaning 'about' or 'towards' (e.g., lupa akan janji - forget about a promise).
  • No Changes: The verb itself never changes its form, regardless of whether the subject is saya, kamu, or mereka.

Examples (4)

  1. Saya akan pergi ke Jakarta besok.

    I will go to Jakarta tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I will go to Jakarta tomorrow.

    A simple future statement using 'akan' before the verb 'pergi' (to go).

  2. Hujan lebat akan turun sore ini.

    Heavy rain will fall this afternoon.

    Word by Word: Rain heavy will fall afternoon this.

    Used here for a prediction based on evidence or a forecast.

  3. Kami tidak akan datang ke pesta itu.

    We will not come to that party.

    Word by Word: We not will come to party that.

    Shows the correct placement of the negator 'tidak' before 'akan'.

  4. Presiden akan membuka acara tersebut.

    The President will open the event.

    Word by Word: President will open event mentioned.

    A formal announcement of a scheduled future action.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the scope of tidak akan and akan tidak.

    Saya akan tidak makan.
    Saya tidak akan makan.

    Tidak akan is the ordinary will not pattern. Akan tidak also occurs with different scope, as in Pak Menteri akan tidak datang (karena dia marah). Do not treat it as universally ungrammatical; use tidak akan for the basic prediction of non-occurrence.

  • Using 'akan' for immediate personal desires in casual speech.

    Saya akan kopi.
    Saya mau kopi.

    'Akan' is a future marker, not a verb for 'want'. For desires or immediate intentions, 'mau' is more natural.

How It Connects

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

akan + VerbLevel 1Future or Prediction with Akan

Learn This First

To use 'akan' correctly, you need to understand the basic Indonesian sentence structure and the fact that verbs do not change their form to indicate time. It is also helpful to know how 'mau' is used for informal future plans to distinguish when the more formal 'akan' is appropriate.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern