The Russian future tense.

Russian has two futures

Most languages have one future tense. Russian splits it based on aspect:

• Simple future - used with perfective verbs. The verb looks like a present-tense conjugation, but the meaning is future.
• Compound future - used with imperfective verbs. The verb быть (in its full future conjugation: буду, будешь, будет, etc.) plus an imperfective infinitive.

You don't choose between them randomly. The choice follows the aspect of the verb you're using.

The simple future (perfective verbs)

Take a perfective verb. Conjugate it like a regular present tense. The meaning is future, not present.

Example with прочитать (perfective of читать, "to read [through]"):

The endings are 100% identical to the present-tense pattern of the imperfective читать (читаю, читаешь, читает...). What distinguishes them is the perfective prefix (про-) or whatever marker makes the verb perfective. Once you see the perfective marker, you read the verb as future.

This is the only future form perfective verbs have. They have no present tense - the present-tense slot is taken over by the future meaning.

The compound future (imperfective verbs)

Imperfective verbs form their future with буду + the imperfective infinitive. Conjugate буду by person; keep the infinitive in its dictionary form.

Which future to use

Choose based on what you mean, the same way you would for past tense.

Use the simple (perfective) future when:

• The action is a single, complete event with a result: Я напишу письмо (I'll write the letter and finish it)
• You're emphasising the outcome: Мы построим дом (we'll build a house)
• The verb has a clear endpoint: Он скажет правду (he'll tell the truth)

Use the compound (imperfective) future when:

• The action is ongoing or has duration: Я буду работать весь день (I'll be working all day)
• It's a habit or repeated future action: Мы будем встречаться каждую субботу (we'll meet every Saturday)
• You're describing process without focusing on completion: Они будут учить русский (they'll be learning Russian)

The future of быть itself

The verb быть (to be) has its own simple future and uses it both as a standalone verb and as the auxiliary for the compound future of all other imperfective verbs.

• Я буду дома. - I will be home. (standalone future of быть)
• Я буду читать. - I will be reading. (буду as auxiliary + reading infinitive)

Same conjugation in both uses: буду, будешь, будет, будем, будете, будут.

The "present as future" shortcut

For planned future events involving motion or scheduled activity, Russian often uses the imperfective present with a future time marker, just like English's "I'm going to Paris tomorrow."

• Завтра я еду в Москву. - Tomorrow I'm going to Moscow.
• В пятницу мы летим в Берлин. - On Friday we're flying to Berlin.
• Через час я ухожу. - In an hour I'm leaving.

This pattern is most common with verbs of motion. The compound future (я буду ехать) would emphasise the journey itself, which is rarely what you mean for a planned trip.

Common pitfalls

Saying буду + perfective infinitive

This is the single most common mistake: writing буду прочитать or буду написать. Perfective verbs don't combine with буду. Their conjugated form is already future. The fix: я буду читать (compound future, imperfective) OR я прочитаю (simple future, perfective), but never буду + perfective.

Reading prochitayu as present

When you see я прочитаю, the conjugation pattern looks identical to a present-tense verb. The "tell" is the perfective marker - here, the prefix про-. If a verb has a perfective form (a prefix, a suffix change, a stem alternation), its conjugated form is future, never present.

Picking the wrong aspect for "will be"

"I will be" in Russian is always я буду - the simple future of быть. Not "я буду быть" (что? that's redundant). The future of "to be" is just one word.

Forgetting that habits in the future are imperfective

"I will go to the gym every day" is a habit, so use the imperfective compound future: Я буду ходить в спортзал каждый день. Using the perfective here (пойду каждый день) sounds like a single trip the speaker keeps stretching out, which doesn't match the habit meaning.

Frequently asked questions

How many future tenses does Russian have?

Russian has two future tense forms. The simple future is used for perfective verbs and looks just like a present-tense conjugation: я прочитаю (I will read [through it]). The compound future is used for imperfective verbs and is formed with буду/будешь/будет/будем/будете/будут plus the imperfective infinitive: я буду читать (I will read / I'll be reading). The choice between them depends on verbal aspect, not on personal preference.

How do I form the simple future in Russian?

Take a perfective verb and conjugate it exactly like a present-tense verb. The form looks present but means future. Example: прочитать (perfective, 'to read through') → я прочитаю, ты прочитаешь, он прочитает, мы прочитаем, вы прочитаете, они прочитают. The 'tell' that it's future is the perfective marker - usually a prefix like про-, на-, с-, or an aspect-specific stem change.

When do I use буду + infinitive versus the simple future?

Use буду + imperfective infinitive when you want to express duration, repetition, a habit, or an ongoing action in the future ('я буду читать каждый день' - I'll read every day). Use the simple future (perfective conjugation) when you want to express a single, completed future action with a clear result ('я прочитаю этот роман' - I'll read this novel through). The aspect choice mirrors what you'd do in the past tense.

Can I say 'я буду прочитать'?

No. The construction буду + infinitive only works with imperfective infinitives. Perfective verbs already form their future on their own (я прочитаю), so adding буду would be doubling up. The correct options are either 'я буду читать' (imperfective, compound future) or 'я прочитаю' (perfective, simple future). The choice depends on whether you want to emphasise process or completion.

How do I say 'I will be' in Russian?

Use буду, the first-person singular future of быть. Я буду дома (I will be home), ты будешь в Москве (you'll be in Moscow), он будет рад (he'll be happy). The full conjugation is буду, будешь, будет, будем, будете, будут. The same forms double as the auxiliary for the compound future of every imperfective verb.

Can I use the present tense for future plans in Russian?

Yes, for planned trips and scheduled future events, especially with verbs of motion. 'Завтра я еду в Москву' (Tomorrow I'm going to Moscow) uses the imperfective present еду with a future-time word завтра. This is parallel to English's 'I'm flying to Paris tomorrow.' The pattern works best with motion verbs (ехать, идти, лететь, плыть) and a few activity verbs. For most other planned events, use the appropriate future form.

What's the future of imperfective читать?

It's the compound future: я буду читать (I will be reading / I'll read), ты будешь читать, он будет читать, мы будем читать, вы будете читать, они будут читать. The perfective partner прочитать has the simple future: я прочитаю, ты прочитаешь, он прочитает, etc. Both translate to English 'I will read,' but the meanings differ - the imperfective focuses on the activity, the perfective on the completion.