буду + Infinitive
Compound Imperfective Future
The compound future (буду + infinitive) is used for future actions viewed as a process, a habit, or a state, rather than a completed result.
How It Works
The Russian compound future focuses on the nature of the action itself. Unlike the perfective future, which focuses on a finished result, the compound future is used for:
- Processes: Actions that take time. Я буду читать весь вечер (I will be reading all evening).
- Habits/Repetition: Actions that happen multiple times. Мы будем часто ходить в кино (We will go to the cinema often).
- States: Verbs describing a state of being. Он будет жить в Москве (He will be living in Moscow).
Conjugation of быть:
- я буду
- ты будешь
- он/она/оно будет
- мы будем
- вы будете
- они будут
Important Rule: You must use the imperfective infinitive. You cannot use this construction with perfective verbs.
Examples (4)
- Завтра я буду работать весь день.
Tomorrow I will be working all day.
Word by Word: Tomorrow I will work all day.
Focuses on the duration of the work throughout the day.
- Мы будем часто встречаться в кафе.
We will meet often in the cafe.
Word by Word: We will often meet in cafe.
Focuses on a repeated, habitual action in the future.
- Ты будешь ждать меня у входа?
Will you be waiting for me at the entrance?
Word by Word: You will wait me at entrance?
Focuses on the state of waiting at a specific time.
- Они будут жить в этом доме.
They will live in this house.
Word by Word: They will live in this house.
Describes a continuous state in the future.
Common Mistakes
Using a perfective infinitive with 'буду'.
Я буду прочитать книгу.Я прочитаю книгу.The auxiliary 'буду' can only be paired with imperfective verbs. To express a completed result, use the simple perfective future form instead.
Conjugating both the auxiliary and the main verb.
Я буду работаю.Я буду работать.Only the auxiliary verb 'быть' is conjugated. The main verb must always remain in its infinitive form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form the compound imperfective future, you need to know how to conjugate the verb 'быть' in the future tense and combine it with the dictionary form (infinitive) of an imperfective verb. It is also important to understand the aspectual meaning of the imperfective to know when this specific future construction is appropriate.
- будет + Nominal PredicateFuture Copula with Nominal Predicates
Understanding the future forms of the verb 'быть' is essential as they serve as the auxiliary verb in this construction.
Level 3 - Imperfective aspect for ongoing action
The compound future is only used with imperfective verbs to express ongoing or repeated actions in the future.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- Perfective future
The perfective future is the counterpart to the compound future, used when focusing on a completed result rather than a process.
Level 3 - Imperfective process
The compound future is built using the imperfective aspect to emphasize the process of an action.
Level 3 - -тьInfinitive Ending Ть
The main verb in this construction must always be in the infinitive form.
Level 1 - у + Genitive + будетFuture Possession with У
Uses the future form of 'быть' to express possession in the future.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice буду + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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