Using the Spanish near future (not the present progressive) for future arrangements

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Using the near future tense in Spanish for arranged future actions

In Spanish, we use El Futuro Próximo, e.g. "voy a comprar, vas a comprar, va a comprar, etc" when we are talking about things that we've arranged for the future.

Have a look at the following examples:

Voy a comprarme una casa en las afueras de Madrid.I am buying a house on the outskirts of Madrid.

Ella va a apuntarse al curso de yoga de los martes.She is signing up for the yoga classes on Tuesdays.

Los estudiantes van a sorprender a la maestra con un ramo de flores.The students are surprising the teacher with a bunch of flowers.

Notice how in Spanish, El Futuro Próximo is used but in English El Presente Progresivo is used instead.

Remember: to express what you are doing in the future as an already decided and arranged for action in the future, use El Futuro Próximo, not El Presente Progresivo

For example:

I've decided to go to Barcelona this coming Saturday:

"Voy a ir a Barcelona este sábado." (correct)

"Estoy yendo a Barcelona este sábado." (incorrect)

(I am going to Barcelona this Saturday.)

See also a more basic lesson on El Presente Progresivo and El Futuro Próximo:

Using the Spanish present progressive/continuous instead of the present (El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente)

Conjugate in the near future in Spanish with ir a + infinitive (El Futuro próximo)

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Examples and resources

Ella va a apuntarse al curso de yoga de los martes.She is signing up for the yoga classes on Tuesdays.
Los estudiantes van a sorprender a la maestra con un ramo de flores.The students are surprising the teacher with a bunch of flowers.
Voy a comprarme una casa en las afueras de Madrid.I am buying a house on the outskirts of Madrid.
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