Future Subjunctive: Reading Formal and Legal Texts

The Future Subjunctive (Futuro de Subjuntivo) is a formal, and largely archaic, tense used almost exclusively in legal documents, literature, and old sayings. You won't hear it in conversation, but you will see it in writing.

How to Form the Future Subjunctive

Luckily, if you know the Imperfect Subjunctive, you already know the hardest part. The Future Subjunctive is formed from the exact same stem.

1. Take the ellos/ellas/ustedes form of the Preterite Tense.
2. Drop the -ron ending to find the stem.
3. Add the Future Subjunctive endings: -re, -res, -re, -remos, -reis, -ren.

Example with hablar (to speak):

• Preterite ellos form: hablaron
• Stem: habla-
• Future Subjunctive forms: hablare, hablares, hablare, habláremos, hablareis, hablaren

Example with tener (to have - irregular):

• Preterite ellos form: tuvieron
• Stem: tuvie-
• Future Subjunctive forms: tuviere, tuvieres, tuviere, tuviéremos, tuviereis, tuvieren

When to Use It (for Reading)

Look for it in these contexts:

• In si (if) clauses: Si alguien infringiere la ley... (If anyone should break the law...)
• With relative pronouns like quien or el que: El que matare a otro será castigado. (He who kills another shall be punished.)
• In proverbs and sayings: A donde fueres, haz lo que vieres. (Wherever you may go, do what you may see.)

Essentially, it expresses a hypothetical future action in a very formal register.