-iere/-ieres/-iere/-iéremos/-iereis/-ieren
Future Subjunctive -ER/-IR
The future subjunctive for -ER and -IR verbs expresses hypothetical future actions. It is now almost exclusively found in legal documents, literature, and proverbs.
How It Works
The future subjunctive (futuro de subjuntivo) is a tense that has fallen out of use in modern spoken Spanish but remains important for understanding formal, legal, and classical texts. It describes a potential or hypothetical action in the future.
Formation:
The rule is consistent for all -ER and -IR verbs, including irregulars.
1. Take the third-person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes) form of the preterite.
2. Remove the final -ron.
3. Add the future subjunctive endings -re, -res, -re, -remos, -reis, -ren (the nosotros form takes a written accent: comiéremos).
Endings added to the stem: -re, -res, -re, -remos, -reis, -ren (so most verbs end in -iere, -ieres, -iere, -iéremos, -iereis, -ieren)
Examples of Formation:
- Vivir (to live) → vivieron → vivie- → viviere, vivieres, viviere...
- Tener (to have) → tuvieron → tuvie- → tuviere, tuvieres, tuviere...
- Decir (to say) → dijeron → dije- → dijere, dijeres, dijere...
Usage:
The future subjunctive appears in specific grammatical structures:
1. In conditional clauses with 'si' (if): This usage is very formal or archaic. The main clause is often in the future indicative or imperative.
• Si alguien cometiere un fraude, irá a la cárcel. (If anyone should commit fraud, they will go to jail.)
2. After relative pronouns and conjunctions referring to an indefinite future: This is common in legal language with words like quien (whoever), el que (the one who), cuando (when), and donde (where).
• Quien infringiere esta norma, recibirá una multa. (Whoever violates this rule will receive a fine.)
3. In proverbs and fixed expressions: This is one of the few places you might still encounter it.
• Adonde fueres, haz lo que vieres. (Wherever you may go, do what you see. - i.e., When in Rome, do as the Romans do.) Note: 'fueres' is from 'ir' and 'vieres' is from 'ver'.
Modern Replacement:
In virtually all modern contexts, the present subjunctive is used instead of the future subjunctive to talk about future possibilities.
- Archaic/Legal: Cuando pudiere, lo haré. (When I am able, I will do it.)
- Modern: Cuando pueda, lo haré.
Examples (5)
- El que vendiere alcohol a menores será sancionado.
He who sells alcohol to minors will be sanctioned.
Word by Word: The one that were to sell alcohol to minors will be sanctioned.
A typical legal sentence. 'Vendiere' is the future subjunctive of 'vender' (to sell), referring to anyone who might perform this action in the future.
- Si usted no cumpliere con el contrato, habrá consecuencias.
If you do not comply with the contract, there will be consequences.
Word by Word: If you were not to comply with the contract, there will be consequences.
'Cumpliere' is the future subjunctive of 'cumplir' (to comply). This is a formal conditional clause.
- Quien tuviere información, debe comunicarla a las autoridades.
Whoever may have information must report it to the authorities.
Word by Word: Whoever were to have information, must communicate it to the authorities.
'Tuviere' is the future subjunctive of the irregular verb 'tener' (to have). It refers to any person who might have information.
- Se aplicará la ley a aquellos que corrompieren el sistema.
The law will be applied to those who corrupt the system.
Word by Word: Will be applied the law to those that were to corrupt the system.
'Corrompieren' is the future subjunctive of 'corromper' (to corrupt).
- Adonde fueres, haz lo que vieres.
Wherever you go, do what you see. (When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)
Word by Word: To where you were to go, do that which you were to see.
A famous proverb. 'Vieres' is the future subjunctive of 'ver' (to see). 'Fueres' is from 'ir' (to go).
Common Mistakes
Using the future subjunctive in everyday conversation.
Si tuviere tiempo mañana, te llamo.Si tengo tiempo mañana, te llamo.The future subjunctive is obsolete in spoken Spanish. For future conditions that are likely, use the present indicative. For hypothetical future actions in subordinate clauses, use the present subjunctive (e.g., 'Cuando tengas tiempo...').
Confusing the future subjunctive (-re) with the imperfect subjunctive (-ra).
La ley castigará a quien infringiera las normas.La ley castigará a quien infringiere las normas.Although they share the same stem, the future subjunctive (-re) is for hypothetical future events in formal contexts, while the imperfect subjunctive (-ra/-se) is for past or unlikely present hypotheticals. In modern Spanish, the incorrect example is often accepted, but in a strict legal context, '-re' is the traditionally correct form.
Related Patterns
- -are/-ares/-are/-áremos/-areis/-arenFuture Subjunctive -AR
This is the equivalent pattern for -AR verbs. The concept, usage, and level of formality are identical.
Level 6 - -iera/-ieras/-iera/-iéramos/-ierais/-ieranImperfect Subjunctive -ER/-IR (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive shares the exact same stem (from the 3rd person plural preterite) but has different endings (-ra vs. -re). It's crucial to distinguish them, as the imperfect subjunctive is very common in modern Spanish for hypothetical situations, while the future subjunctive is not.
Level 4 - -a/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-anPresent Subjunctive -ER/-IR
This is the present subjunctive, which has almost completely replaced the future subjunctive in modern Spanish for expressing future possibilities or hypothetical actions (e.g., after 'cuando', 'en caso de que').
Level 3 - cuando/después de que/hasta que + SubjunctiveTemporal Subjunctive
These are temporal conjunctions that introduce future actions. In modern Spanish, they require the present subjunctive. Historically and in very formal writing, they could be followed by the future subjunctive.
Level 3 - si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
This is the standard structure for contrary-to-fact or unlikely conditions in modern Spanish. It contrasts with the archaic 'si + future subjunctive + future/imperative' structure.
Level 4
Practice -iere/-ieres/-iere/-iéremos/-iereis/-ieren in Bubblegum
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