будем + Active Participle

Future in Subordinate Clauses

Level 3Sounds Like futur budem + radni glagolski pridev

Futur II (будем, будеш, буде, будемо, будете, буду + active participle) denotes a future event linked to another future action. In standard Serbian, it is strictly restricted to subordinate clauses (usually after conditional or temporal conjunctions like ако, кад, чим, or док).

How It Works

1. Formation
Futur II is formed with the perfective present of the verb бити (будем, будеш, буде, будемо, будете, буду) alongside the active past participle of the main verb.
The participle must match the subject in gender and number (illustrated here in the 3rd person singular and plural):
• Masculine singular: он буде радио
• Feminine singular: она буде радила
• Neuter singular: оно буде радило (e.g., дете буде радило)
• Plural: они / оне / она буду радили / радиле / радила

2. Syntactic Placement
Futur II occurs only in subordinate clauses, commonly introduced by:
• Conditional conjunctions: ако, уколико
• Temporal conjunctions: кад(а), чим, док, пре него што
• Relative pronouns: ко, шта, који

3. Aspect and Alternation with Present Tense
• Imperfective verbs: Express an ongoing or background action in the future (e.g., Ако буде падала киша, понећемо кишобран). While conversational speech sometimes substitutes an imperfective present (Ако пада киша...), doing so can create temporal ambiguity between an ongoing present condition ("if it is raining right now") and a future one ("if it happens to be raining later"). Imperfective Futur II unambiguously marks future occurrence.
• Perfective verbs: Express an action completed prior to another future event (e.g., чим будем стигао). Perfective Futur II is fully standard and common in both conversational and written Serbian (e.g., Јави ми се чим будеш стигао), where it alternates naturally with the perfective present (чим стигнем, ако јавиш).

Examples (4)

  1. Ако буде падала киша, остаћемо код куће.

    If it rains, we will stay at home.

    Word by Word: If will-be fallen rain, we-will-stay at home.

    Uses the imperfective verb падати to describe an ongoing or possible condition in the future.

  2. Јави ми се чим будеш стигао у Београд.

    Contact me as soon as you arrive in Belgrade.

    Word by Word: Call to-me self as-soon-as you-will-be arrived in Belgrade.

    Uses the perfective verb стићи to mark an action that must finish before the imperative action occurs.

  3. Док ти будеш кувала ручак, ја ћу радити у башти.

    While you are cooking lunch, I will work in the garden.

    Word by Word: While you will-be cooked lunch, I will work in garden.

    Demonstrates simultaneous future activities introduced by the conjunction док with a feminine subject.

  4. Урадићемо све што будемо могли да помогнемо.

    We will do everything that we can to help.

    Word by Word: We-will-do all that we-will-be been-able to help.

    Shows Futur II in a relative subordinate clause modifying a future commitment.

Common Mistakes

  • Using Futur I (ће + infinitive) in an 'if' clause

    Ако ће падати киша, остаћемо код куће.
    Ако буде падала киша, остаћемо код куће.

    English speakers often transfer 'if it will rain'. In standard Serbian, 'ако' clauses usually avoid Futur I; use Futur II ('буде падала') or a present form instead. 'Ако ће' is kept for special uses such as willingness ('Ако ће ти бити лакше...').

  • Using Futur II as an independent main clause tense

    Сутра ја будем учио цео дан.
    Сутра ћу учити цео дан.

    Unlike English 'will have done' or future markers in other Slavic languages, Futur II cannot serve as the main predicate of a standalone sentence. Independent statements require Futur I.

  • Forgetting gender and number agreement on the participle

    Јави ми се чим будеш стигао, Ана.
    Јави ми се чим будеш стигла, Ана.

    The active past participle must agree with the gender and number of the subject. When addressing Ana, use the feminine singular ending -ла.

How It Connects

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будем + Active ParticipleLevel 3Future in Subordinate Clauses

Learn This First

To understand and correctly use Futur II (будем + радни глаголски придев), you must know how to form the active past participle, understand basic future tense expressions (Futur I) which contrast with it in the main clause, and be familiar with conditional clauses ('ако') where Futur II is commonly employed.

Words in This Pattern

бити