Future tense
Ukrainian has three ways to talk about the future. Which one you use depends on the verb’s aspect (see the next rule).
| form | example | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| буду + infinitive (imperfective) | я буду читати | process, repeated |
| one-word form (imperfective) | я читатиму | same meaning |
| perfective verb, present endings | я прочитаю | result, completed |
Forms of буду
я буду, ти будеш, він / вона буде, ми будемо, ви будете, вони будуть
Examples
- Завтра я буду працювати вдома.Tomorrow I will be working from home.
- Ми житимемо в центрі.We will live in the centre.
- Я напишу тобі ввечері.I will write to you in the evening.
- Де ти будеш влітку?Where will you be in the summer?
- Я подзвоню тобі завтра.I will call you tomorrow.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Я буду читаю.✓ Я буду читати.After буду the verb stays in the infinitive, as in English will read.
- ✗ Ми будемо житимемо.✓ Ми будемо жити.The two future forms cannot be combined, so the infinitive follows буду, as in English will live.
- ✗ Ти будеш робите?✓ Ти будеш робити?After буду the verb is an infinitive in -ти, not a conjugated form.
- ✗ Завтра я є вдома.✓ Завтра я буду вдома.A future meaning needs буду, as the zero verb works only in the present, unlike English will be.
- ✗ Ми будемо працюємо.✓ Ми будемо працювати.The future with буду takes the infinitive, never a present tense form.