The future with werden, and why it is hardly ever used
CEFR B1 · part 2
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
entweder…oder, nicht nur…sondern auch: two-part connectorsLinking two ideas with the five commonest pairs —entweder…oder, sowohl…als auch…warten auf, denken an: verbs with a fixed preposition, and the da- and wo- that go with themLearning the verb with its preposition attached, as one word —warten AUF, denken AN…der Deutsche, etwas Gutes: adjectives turned into nounsTurning an adjective into a noun, which German does every day: der Alte, die Kleine, das…Indirect questions: ob and the seven W-words, with the verb at the endAsking politely rather than bluntly, which is what they are really for: Wissen Sie, wo…könnten Sie, ich hätte gern: polite requests and wishesAsking for things without sounding blunt, which matters more in Germany than you would…obwohl, damit and um…zu: although, so that and in order toExpressing purpose and concession, which is what turns two loose sentences into an…The rule, in three lines
The future is made with werden conjugated and the infinitive at the end. But what matters is when it is NOT used, which is nearly always: if there is a time word, German uses the PRESENT and that is that. The werden future is kept for promises, predictions and — this surprises everyone — guesses about the present: Er wird krank sein means «he must be ill».
The usual slip. Using werden every time you talk about the future, because your language has a tense for it. In German it sounds forced. The second mistake is vocabulary: werden also means «to become», so Ich werde Lehrer is not a future but «I am becoming a teacher».
Why it catches you out. English has «will» and «going to» and uses the present for scheduled events —«I'm flying to Berlin tomorrow»—, which is exactly what German does. So the habit is there. The trap is the word: werden also means «to become», and ich werde Lehrer is not a future.