The Future Subjunctive in Spanish is a rare tense, primarily found in legal documents, older literature, and certain fixed expressions. While infrequently used in modern Spanish, understanding its formation for regular -ir verbs can be valuable for advanced learners and those studying historical texts.
Formation Rule
For regular -ir verbs, the Future Subjunctive is formed using the third-person plural (ellos/ellas) form of the preterite tense as a base. Simply remove the -ron ending and add the Future Subjunctive endings.
Conjugation Pattern
The endings for the Future Subjunctive are:
| Pronoun | Ending |
|---|---|
| yo | -iere |
| tú | -ieres |
| él/ella/usted | -iere |
| nosotros/nosotras | -iéremos |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | -ieren |
Examples
1. Vivir (to live)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | viviere |
| Tú | vivieres |
| Él/Ella/Usted | viviere |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | viviéremos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | vivieren |
2. Escribir (to write)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | escribiere |
| Tú | escribieres |
| Él/Ella/Usted | escribiere |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | escribiéremos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | escribieren |
3. Decidir (to decide)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | decidiere |
| Tú | decidieres |
| Él/Ella/Usted | decidiere |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | decidiéremos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | decidieren |
Usage
The Future Subjunctive is used in hypothetical situations or conditions that may occur in the future. It’s often found in legal or formal contexts, typically in clauses beginning with “si” (if), “cuando” (when), or “mientras” (while).
Example:
- Si yo viviere en España, aprendería español más rápido. (If I were to live in Spain, I would learn Spanish faster.)
Modern Equivalence
In contemporary Spanish, the Present Subjunctive often replaces the Future Subjunctive in most contexts:
- Modern equivalent: Si yo viviera/viviese en España, aprendería español más rápido.
Synonyms:
- Verbos regulares en Futuro Simple De Subjuntivo, Futuro Imperfecto De Subjuntivo