Futuro de Probabilidade
The Futuro de Probabilidade uses the standard future tense endings (-ei, -ás, -á...) to express 'I wonder' or 'it must be' regarding the present, rather than the future.
How It Works
In Portuguese, the synthetic future (e.g., será, terá) is often considered formal when used for time. However, when used for probability, it is common in daily speech. Note that in Brazil, while common for 'ser' and 'ter', speakers often prefer using 'deve + infinitive' (e.g., Ele deve ter 30 anos) or será que for other verbs.
1. Present Speculation
Instead of using the present indicative to state a fact, you use the future to show you aren't 100% sure.
Example: Quem é? (Who is it? - asking for a fact) vs. Quem será? (I wonder who it is? - speculating).
2. Past Speculation
To express probability about the past, use the Futuro do Pretérito (Conditional).
Example: Quem seria aquela pessoa? (I wonder who that person was?).
3. Common Uses
- Estimating Age: Ele terá uns 30 anos. (He must be about 30 years old.)
- Estimating Time: Será meio-dia agora. (It must be noon now.)
- Rhetorical Questions: Onde estará a Maria? (I wonder where Maria is?)
4. Conjugation Reminder
The endings are attached to the infinitive: -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -eis, -ão. Remember the three irregular stems: fazer (far-), dizer (dir-), and trazer (trar-).
Examples (4)
- Quem será àquela hora da noite?
Who could that be at this time of night?
Word by Word: Who will-be at-that hour of-the night?
The speaker is wondering who is at the door right now, not in the future.
- Ele terá uns quarenta anos, mais ou menos.
He must be about forty years old, more or less.
Word by Word: He will-have some forty years, more or less.
Using 'terá' indicates an educated guess about his current age.
- Onde estará o meu telemóvel?
I wonder where my phone is?
Word by Word: Where will-be the my mobile-phone?
Commonly used to express present uncertainty about the location of an object.
- Será que ela vem à festa?
I wonder if she is coming to the party?
Word by Word: Will-it-be that she comes to-the party?
The phrase 'Será que...' is a very common way to start a speculative question.
Common Mistakes
Using the future of probability for past guesses.
Quem será ele naquela foto antiga?Quem seria ele naquela foto antiga?For guesses about the past, you must use the Futuro do Pretérito (Conditional) instead of the Futuro do Presente.
Thinking 'será' always refers to a future time.
Será meio-dia amanhã.Será meio-dia agora.While it can mean 'it will be,' in context it often means 'it must be (now).'
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- -ei/-ás/-á/-emos/-eis/-ãoFuturo Do Presente Regular
This pattern uses the standard endings of the regular future tense.
Level 3 - farei/direi/trareiFuturo Irregular (Fazer/Dizer/Trazer)
These are the irregular stems used when making guesses with the verbs fazer, dizer, or trazer.
Level 3 - ir + InfinitiveFuturo Próximo Com Ir
While 'ir + infinitive' is used for future time, it cannot be used for this 'probability' function.
Level 2 - ter / haverTer vs. Haver
Speculation often involves 'ter' (for age) or 'haver' (for existence/time).
Level 2 - que/quem/onde/quando/como/quanto/por queQuestion Words
The future of probability is frequently used with question words to express 'I wonder...'
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Futuro de Probabilidade in Bubblegum
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