Ir + Infinitive in Portuguese: Forms, Negatives & Questions — Practice

Conjugate ir and keep the next verb in its infinitive

For many everyday plans and predictions, Brazilian speakers use a present-tense form of ir followed directly by an infinitive. The verb ir changes to match the subject; the second verb stays in its dictionary form: eu vou trabalhar, você vai sair, a gente vai aprender.

Do not add a between the two verbs in this pattern. Say vou estudar, not vou a estudar. The infinitive names the action, while vou or vai carries the subject and future meaning.

Add a time phrase to make a plan clear

A time expression such as amanhã, depois do trabalho, or no mês que vem tells the listener when the plan fits. Without a time phrase, context often does the job: vou pegar um café can mean ‘I’m going to get a coffee’ when you are deciding what to do next.

Despite the label near future, the construction is not limited to an event happening immediately. Time expressions and context can place it tomorrow or much later. The task here is building the form; use the separate future-plans guide for a complete planning exchange.

Remember: Use vou, vai, vamos, or vão + an infinitive for a natural everyday future: vou sair, vamos pedir, eles vão voltar.

Make a negative or a question without conjugating twice

Place não before the conjugated ir form: não vou trabalhar. In the examples here, a question keeps the same order and is identified by its context, question word or intonation: Você vai trabalhar amanhã?

Conjugate ir, not both verbs: nós vamos estudar, not nós vamos estudamos. After a gente, use vai in this construction: a gente vai estudar. The second verb remains an infinitive.

Remember: Match vou, vai, vamos or vão to the subject, keep the next verb in the infinitive, and put não before ir when negating the action.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Choose the language for the situation

Now use the explanation to decide what fits the situation. Check the reason for the answer, not just the option you chose.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I’m going to call my sister later.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou ligar para a minha irmã depois.

2. We’re going to visit Salvador during vacation.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente vai conhecer Salvador nas férias.

3. They’re going to arrive before lunch.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eles vão chegar antes do almoço.

4. Are you going to work tomorrow?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você vai trabalhar amanhã?

5. The market is going to close at nine.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O mercado vai fechar às nove.

6. I still don’t know what I’m going to do this weekend.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ainda não sei o que vou fazer no fim de semana.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use vou, vai, vamos, or vão + an infinitive for a natural everyday future: vou sair, vamos pedir, eles vão voltar.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our The Near Future in Portuguese: Use Ir + an Infinitive lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.