Contents · A1
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Futur I, the Croatian future, is formed with a short auxiliary, the clitic forms of htjeti (ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete, će), and the infinitive. A plan already made is also said with the present, as English says I’m going.
Futur I: ću with the infinitive; radit ću, ići ću; neću; Hoćeš li? – Hoću#
Formation
The auxiliary has one form per person: ja ću, ti ćeš, on / ona / ono će, mi ćemo, vi ćete, oni / one / ona će. It is a clitic and stands second in the clause. After a subject or another word placed first in the clause, the auxiliary comes before the infinitive, which is written in full: Ja ću raditi. Sutra ću raditi. Ana će doći. When no other word is placed first, the infinitive comes first and the auxiliary after it; an infinitive in -ti is then written without its final -i: radit ću, gledat ćemo, bit će, jest ćemo. An infinitive in -ći is written in full: ići ću, doći ćeš.
| raditi | biti | |
|---|---|---|
| ja | radit ću | bit ću |
| ti | radit ćeš | bit ćeš |
| on/ona/ono | radit će | bit će |
| mi | radit ćemo | bit ćemo |
| vi | radit ćete | bit ćete |
| oni/one/ona | radit će | bit će |
| Subject first | Verb first |
|---|---|
| ja ću raditi | radit ću |
| mi ćemo gledati | gledat ćemo |
| ona će biti | bit će |
| ti ćeš doći | doći ćeš |
The negative and questions
The negative is one word formed with ne: neću, nećeš, neće, nećemo, nećete, neće (also written ne ću). It is not a clitic, so it can stand first, and the infinitive after it is written in full: Neću gledati. Oni neće ići. A yes–no question begins with the long form of the auxiliary, hoću, hoćeš, hoće, hoćemo, hoćete, hoće, followed by li: Hoćeš li doći? Hoće li Ana doći? The short answer is that long form alone, or neću: Hoću. / Neću.
Use
Futur I is used for what will happen and for a prediction: Ovaj tjedan će biti jako vruće. It is often used with a time word: sutra, sljedeći tjedan, idući tjedan, u subotu, u srpnju. For a plan already made, the present is used as well as futur I: Sutra idem u Zagreb or Sutra ću ići u Zagreb. What is happening now or every day is said with the present: Sada učim.
- Sutra ću raditi od kuće.Tomorrow I’ll work from home.
- Kuhat ćemo ribu za večeru.We’ll cook fish for dinner.
- Bit će lijepo vrijeme u nedjelju.The weather will be nice on Sunday.
- Ivan neće doći, umoran je.Ivan won’t come, he’s tired.
- Hoćete li biti kod kuće? – Hoćemo.Will you be at home? – Yes, we will.
- U petak putujemo u Zadar.We’re travelling to Zadar on Friday.
Difference from English
English will is a word of its own that comes before the verb; the Croatian auxiliary is a clitic that stands second, so the infinitive is often placed first: Radit ću (“I’ll work”). English Will you …? is Hoćeš li …?, with the long form, and I’m going to the cinema is the present Idem u kino, not idem ići.
Common mistakes
Ću raditi sutra.→ Radit ću sutra.The auxiliary is never placed first.Raditi ću.→ Radit ću.Before the auxiliary, an infinitive in -ti is written without its -i.Ić ću.→ Ići ću.An infinitive in -ći is written in full.Ćeš li doći?→ Hoćeš li doći?A question begins with the long form.
In short
| Point | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| auxiliary | ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete, će, second in the clause | Sutra ću raditi. |
| verb first | infinitive without -i + auxiliary | radit ću, bit će |
| infinitive in -ći | written in full | ići ću, doći ćeš |
| negative | neću, nećeš, neće… | Neću gledati. |
| question, answer | Hoćeš li…? – Hoću. / Neću. | Hoće li Ana doći? |
| plan | the present or futur I | Sutra idem u Zagreb. |
Practise
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