Expressing probability in Spanish with the future tense
To express the probability of something happening at the time you are speaking, in Spanish we use El Futuro Simple, also known as El Futuro Imperfecto.
By using this tense we do not express what is going to happen or what is definitely happening but rather we are:
- speculating about what might be happening,
- expressing what is probably happening,
- predicting what might be happening.
Look at the following examples:
Marcos y Javier todavía no han llegado. ¿Dónde estarán?Marcos and Javier haven't arrived yet. Where could they be?
Es un poco raro que Paula no esté aquí; estará todavía esperando el autobús.It is a bit strange that Paula is not here; she is probably still waiting for the bus.
ATTENTION:
If the conjecture or expression of probability is about the past, then you use El Condicional Simple.
If the conjecture or expression of probability is about the past, then you use El Condicional Simple.
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