sẽ

Will

Level 1

Sẽ is placed directly before a verb to indicate that an action will happen in the future. It is similar to 'will' or 'going to' in English.

How It Works

While sẽ translates to 'will', it is used differently than in English:

  • It is optional: If your sentence already has a future time word (like 'tomorrow' or 'next week'), you don't actually need to use sẽ. The time word alone is enough to show the future. Note that time words typically sit at the very beginning or the very end of the sentence (e.g., Ngày mai tôi sẽ đi or Tôi sẽ đi ngày mai).
  • It adds emphasis: When you use sẽ along with a time word, it adds a nuance of certainty, intention, or a promise (e.g., 'I will do it').
  • Negative form: To say 'will not', place the negative word không after the tense marker: sẽ không + Verb (e.g., Tôi sẽ không đi = I will not go).
  • Question form: To ask a future yes/no question, native speakers typically prefer using the có ... không? frame with a time word (e.g., Ngày mai bạn có đi không? = Will you go tomorrow?) or using chứ (e.g., Bạn sẽ đi chứ? = You will go, right?).
  • No conjugation: Because Vietnamese has no verb conjugation, sẽ simply sits right in front of the main verb without changing anything else.

Be careful not to confuse sẽ with sắp (about to happen very soon) or định (planning to do something).

Examples (4)

  1. Ngày mai, tôi sẽ đi làm.

    Tomorrow, I will go to work.

    Word by Word: Day tomorrow, I will go work.

    Using 'sẽ' here emphasizes the certainty or intention of going to work.

  2. Đừng lo nha, mọi chuyện sẽ ổn thôi!

    Don't worry, everything will be alright!

    Word by Word: Don't worry particle, every matter will stable only!

    Here, 'sẽ' is used to give reassurance and make a promise about the future.

  3. Tháng sau tôi sẽ về nước.

    Next month I will return to my home country.

    Word by Word: Month next I will return country.

    A clear statement of a definitive future event.

  4. Tôi sẽ mua cái này.

    I will buy this one.

    Word by Word: I will buy thing this.

    Without a time word present, 'sẽ' is necessary to show that the action of buying is in the future.

Common Mistakes

  • Repeating 'sẽ' in every sentence when the future time is already clear.

    Different MeaningNgày mai tôi sẽ đi học. Sau đó tôi sẽ đi chơi.
    Ngày mai tôi đi học. Sau đó tôi đi chơi.

    This sentence is correct. Because Vietnamese does not need tense markers, once a time word like ngày mai (tomorrow) sets the time, you can drop sẽ. Dropping it often sounds lighter and more natural.

  • Combining 'sẽ' and 'sắp' in the same sentence.

    Tôi sẽ sắp đi ăn.
    Tôi sắp đi ăn.

    You cannot use both markers together. Use 'sẽ' for the general future, and 'sắp' for things happening immediately (about to).

How It Connects

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sẽLevel 1Will

Learn This First

To use 'sẽ' correctly, you need to understand basic Vietnamese word order and the fact that verbs never change their form. It is also helpful to understand that Vietnamese uses markers to indicate the timing or status of an action rather than changing the verb itself.

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