In this unit you will learn the future tense in Quechua, differently than the past tense which uses the suffixes ra or rqa, the future tense uses different verbal endings according to the personal pronoun, let's look at the following examples:

Ñuqa wayk’u-saq (I will cook)

Qan wayk’u-nki (You will cook)

Pay wayk’u-nqa (He, she will cook)

Ñuqanchis wayk’u-sunchis (We will cook)

Ñuqayku wayk’u-saqku (We will cook)

Qankuna wayk’u-nkichis (You will cook)

Paykuna wayk’u-nqaku (They will cook)

Ready?

¡Qallarisun! / Let's get started!

Each personal pronoun has a different verbal ending. Observe the following chart and pay attention to each of the personal verbal markings such as: como: saq, nki, nqa, sunchis, saqku, nkichis, nqaku. We will conjugate the verb with these. tusuy (to dance)

Infinitive verb: tusuy

Verbal root: tusu

Note: Remember that the use of the dashes (-) are not part of Quechua writing, they are used to separate the grammatical structure for a better reading and understand for the student.

Future tense	English
Ñuqa tusu-saq	I will dance
Qan tusu-nki	You will dance
Pay tusu-nqa	She/he will dance
Ñuqanchis tusu-sunchis	We will dance (including the listener)
Ñuqayku tusu-saqku	We will dance (excluding the listener)
Qankuna tusu-nkichis	You will dance
Paykuna tusu-nqaku	They will dance

In the following graphic we will conjugate the verb pukllay (to play), pay attention to the future tense marker (which is in bold).).

Next, we will look at the following examples of the future tense in Quechua.

Let's look at more examples conjugating the future tense in Quechua with the actions that you see in the photos.

Next, listen closely to the following conversation between Timoteo and Dionisia:

To better understand the context of the future tense it is important to know the principal divisions of time.

Note: If you want to expand on this information we invite you to revisit Yachana 6 P´unchaykunaq Sutin (P’unchawkuna): Days of the Week.

Quechua	English
P’unchay	Day
Kunan	Today
Kunan p’unchay	Today
Paqarin	Tomorrow
Qayna p’unchay	Yesterday
Qayna p’unchaykuna	Past days
Minchha p’unchay	The day after tomorrow
Chawpi p’unchay	Noon
Suksa/Sukha	Afternoon
Tuta	Night
Hamuy/Hamuk wata	Next year
Hamuy/Hamuk killa	Next month
Qayna wata	Last year
Kay wata	This year

Closely read the following sentences in the future. Pay attention to the accusative marker «ta», locative suffix «pi» and future verbal markers for each personal pronoun like: saq, nki, nqa, sunchis, saqku, nkichis, nqaku. For this, take into account the following tables.

Next, let's look at more examples that combine the accusative marker "ta", locative suffix "pi", and the future verbal markers: saq, nki, nqa, sunchis, saqku, nkichis, nqaku.

(Ñuqa) Texaspi hamuq wata lingüística-ta yacha-saq.
Next year I will learn linguistics in Texas.

(Qan) Qosqopi hamuq wata waynu-ta tusu-nki.
Next year you will dance Wayno in Cusco.

(Pay) Sara-ta kay wata tarpu-nqa.
This year he/she will sow corn

(Ñuqanchis) Quechua-ta kunan p’unchay yachachi-sunchis. (Inclusive)
Today we will teach Quechua.

(Ñuqayku) Apurimacpi kunan p’unchay futbol-ta puqlla-saqku. (Exclusive)
Today we will play soccer in Apurímac.

(Qankuna) Matematica-ta hamuq watakunapi istudia-nkichis.
In the next years you all will study mathematics.

(Paykuna) Estados Unidospi kay wata Inglis-ta yacha-nqaku.
This year they will learn English in the United States.

Next, we will learn the term «chaymantataq» which refers to "next, after", this term serves a connector when we narrate main activities we will do in the future, pay attention to the suffix SAQ (of the first person) that indicated the future, for example:

¿Imata-taq hamuq watakuna ruwasaq? (What will you do next year?):

Ñuqa Sicuani llaqtayman risaq taytamamaywan tupanaypaq
CHAYMANTATAQ maestriayta hatun yachaywasiypi tukusaq
CHAYMANTATAQ doctoradutapas tukusaq
CHAYMANTATAQ huk mosoq carruta rantisaq
CHAYMANTATAQ liwruy qelqayta qhallarisaq
CHAYMANTATAQ Sicuanipi qosaywan wasichakusaqku
CHAYMANTATAQ huk hatun chakrata rantisaq
CHAYMANTATAQ chakraypi papata, sarata, quinuata, habastawan tarpusaq
CHAYMANTATAQ qosaywan wawaykunata yanapasaqku.
CHAYMANTATAQ Asia suyukuna riqsiq risaq
CHAYMANTATAQ aylluyta yanapasaq atisqayta

I will go to Sicuani to help my parents,
THEN I will finish my master's in the university
THEN I will finish my doctorate
THEN I will buy a new car
THEN I will write a book
THEN my husband and I will build our own house in Sicuani
THEN I will buy a big chakra
THEN I will sow potatoes, corn, quinoa, and fava beans in the chakra
THEN my husband and I will help our kids
THEN I will go to visit Asia
THEN I will help my community.

Qelqay	to write
Tarpuy	to sow
Rantiy	to buy
Faena	collective work
P’acha	clothing
T’aqsay	to wash
Tupay	to meet
Riy	to go
Michi	cat
Paqarin	tomorrow
Qowi	guinea pig
T’ipiy	to shuck
Killa	month
Pallay	to harvest
T’anta	bread
Chiwchi	small chicken
Qhatuy	to sell

Now we will practice what we learned in this unit, pay attention to the following:

• locative suffix «pi» which indicated temporality or place (Californiapi – in California, from California).
• Accusative marker «ta» the indicates direct object (for more detail, see Unit 8) for example: trigo – triguta, fútbol – futbolta, papa – papata, wasi – wasita.
• Verbal markers that indicate the future for each personal pronoun: saq, nki, nqa, sunchis, saqku, nkichis, nqaku.

Next, read each sentence and fill in the blanks: