Future and assumptions
Use werden for future meaning and probability.
The rule
Present tense can describe fixed future plans. Werden + infinitive can predict or express an assumption; wohl and context help identify the intended reading.
werden + infinitive = future · werden + wohl + infinitive = assumption
Use present tense for fixed plans and werden for prediction or emphasis.
Use wohl, wahrscheinlich, or sicher to grade probability.
For assumptions about the present, werden still carries present forms.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1 | Future prediction uses werden + infinitive. | Die Preise werden weiter steigen. | Prices will continue to rise. |
| Pattern 2 | Werden can mark a present assumption. | Er wird jetzt zu Hause sein. | He is probably at home now. |
| Pattern 3 | Wohl grades the assumption inside the sentence bracket. | Sie wird wohl später kommen. | She will probably come later. |
| Pattern 4 | A fixed arrangement naturally uses present tense. | Morgen treffen wir den Kunden. | Tomorrow we meet the client. |
| Pattern 5 | An assumption about a completed action uses perfect infinitive at the end. | Er wird den Termin vergessen haben. | He will probably have forgotten the appointment. |
German examples with English meanings
Die Preise werden weiter steigen.
Prices will continue to rise.
Future prediction uses werden + infinitive.
Er wird jetzt zu Hause sein.
He is probably at home now.
Werden can mark a present assumption.
Sie wird wohl später kommen.
She will probably come later.
Wohl grades the assumption inside the sentence bracket.
Morgen treffen wir den Kunden.
Tomorrow we meet the client.
A fixed arrangement naturally uses present tense.
Er wird den Termin vergessen haben.
He will probably have forgotten the appointment.
An assumption about a completed action uses perfect infinitive at the end.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Die Preise werden weiter gestiegen.
Correct: Die Preise werden weiter steigen.
Future prediction uses werden + infinitive.
Incorrect: Er ist wird jetzt zu Hause.
Correct: Er wird jetzt zu Hause sein.
Werden can mark a present assumption.
Incorrect: Sie wohl wird später kommen.
Correct: Sie wird wohl später kommen.
Wohl grades the assumption inside the sentence bracket.
Incorrect: Morgen werden wir den Kunden getroffen.
Correct: Morgen treffen wir den Kunden.
A fixed arrangement naturally uses present tense.
Incorrect: Er wird haben den Termin vergessen.
Correct: Er wird den Termin vergessen haben.
An assumption about a completed action uses perfect infinitive at the end.
Details and useful distinctions
Keep the infinitive or perfect infinitive at the right edge.
Practise this grammar
Ask whether werden places an event later or evaluates probability now; use context and wohl, then preserve the right-edge infinitive.
Open Future and assumptions exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.