The Czech Future: budu pracovat — but půjdu, pojedu
Tomorrow unlocks with one auxiliary — and one famous exception that separates learners who guessed from learners who learned.
budu + Infinitive
The future of být plus a dictionary form:
| Person | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| já | budu | budu pracovat |
| ty | budeš | budeš se učit |
| on/ona | bude | bude pršet |
| my | budeme | budeme vařit |
| vy | budete | budete číst |
| oni | budou | budou spát |
Zítra budu celý den pracovat.
Tomorrow I'll be working all day.
Note: budu + infinitive — the future of ongoing activities.
The Go-Verbs Rebel
jít and jet refuse budu. Their future is a prefix: půjdu — I'll go (on foot), pojedu — I'll go (by vehicle), poletím — I'll fly.
V sobotu pojedeme na chatu.
On Saturday we'll drive to the cottage.
Note: pojedeme — the prefixed future, no budu in sight.
When Exactly
zítra — tomorrow, o víkendu — at the weekend, příští týden — next week, za týden — in a week's time, večer — tonight.
Asking About Plans
Co budeš dělat zítra? — what are you doing tomorrow? Kam pojedeš o víkendu? — where are you off to this weekend? The small talk of Friday afternoons.
Co budeš dělat o víkendu?
What are you doing this weekend?
V sobotu budu doma. A v neděli půjdu na výlet.
Saturday I'll be home. And Sunday I'll go on a trip.
My pojedeme na chatu.
We're off to the cottage.
Samozřejmě.
Of course you are.
Common Mistakes
- budu jít. Motion verbs prefix: půjdu, pojedu, poletím.
- za týden = last week. za + time means IN that much time: za týden — a week from now.
- Wandering se. In budu se učit, the se docks in slot two — right after budu.
What You Can Do Now
You can make and share plans, ask about anyone's weekend, and never say budu jít — one auxiliary and three prefixed rebels, all under control. (The other future — udělám — arrives with Aspect II.)