How to Form and Use the Future Tense in Croatian

Understanding the Future Tense in Croatian

The future tense in Croatian is used to talk about actions that will happen later than the present moment. Unlike English, Croatian has a specific way to form the future tense that involves auxiliary verbs and verb stems.

Two Ways to Form the Future Tense

In Croatian, the future tense can be formed in two main ways: using the auxiliary verb "htjeti" (to want) plus the infinitive, and using the auxiliary verb "biti" (to be) plus the past participle. The first method is more common in everyday speech.

Forming the Future Tense with "htjeti" + Infinitive

This is the most common way to form the future tense in Croatian. You conjugate the verb "htjeti" in the present tense and add the infinitive of the main verb. For example:

• Ja ću raditi – I will work
• Ti ćeš učiti – You will study
• On/Ona će ići – He/She will go
• Mi ćemo jesti – We will eat
• Vi ćete pisati – You (plural) will write
• Oni/One će spavati – They will sleep

Conjugation of "htjeti" in Present Tense for Future Formation

1. Ja ću
2. Ti ćeš
3. On/Ona će
4. Mi ćemo
5. Vi ćete
6. Oni/One će

Forming the Future Tense with "biti" + Past Participle (Literary Style)

This method is less common in everyday conversation and is mostly used in formal or literary contexts. It involves conjugating the verb "biti" (to be) in the future tense and adding the past participle of the main verb. For example:

• Ja budem radio – I will have worked
• Ti budeš učio – You will have studied
• On/Ona bude išao/išla – He/She will have gone
• Mi budemo jeli – We will have eaten
• Vi budete pisali – You (plural) will have written
• Oni/One budu spavali – They will have slept

Usage Tips for the Future Tense in Croatian

Here are some important points to remember when using the future tense in Croatian:

• The most common form is "htjeti" + infinitive, especially in spoken Croatian.
• The auxiliary verb "htjeti" is always conjugated, while the main verb remains in the infinitive.
• The future tense can express simple future actions or intentions.
• In some regions, the future tense can also be formed by adding specific suffixes to the verb stem, but this is less common.
• The "biti" + past participle form is mostly used in formal writing or literature.

Examples of Future Tense in Sentences

To help you understand better, here are some example sentences using the future tense in Croatian:

• Ja ću ići u školu sutra. – I will go to school tomorrow.
• Mi ćemo kupiti novi auto. – We will buy a new car.
• Ona će raditi na projektu sljedeći tjedan. – She will work on the project next week.
• Vi ćete naučiti hrvatski jezik brzo. – You will learn Croatian quickly.
• Oni će putovati u Hrvatsku ljeti. – They will travel to Croatia in the summer.