Talking about tomorrow
Stops you putting zal in every future sentence. Most of the time Dutch just uses the present tense.
English uses will for almost every future. Dutch has zullen, so learners use it everywhere. Dutch people mostly do not. They have easier ways.
- 1Present tense + a time word: Morgen werk ik thuis. The everyday default.
- 2gaan + dictionary form: Ik ga verhuizen. For plans, and for things you can see coming.
- 3zullen + dictionary form: Ik zal het sturen. For promises, guesses and official letters.
- 4van plan zijn om … te: Ik ben van plan om te stoppen met roken. For things you intend to do.
If the sentence has a time word (morgen, straks, volgende week), the normal present tense is enough.
Morgen werk ik thuis.
Tomorrow I'm working from home.
time word first, so the verb comes next
Ik bel je vanavond.
I'll call you tonight.
English says will; Dutch does not need it
Volgende week begint mijn cursus.
My course starts next week.
present tense, future meaning
We gaan in de zomer verhuizen.
We're going to move in the summer.
gaan + dictionary form = a plan
Ik ga vanavond koken.
I'm going to cook tonight.
gaan in seat two, koken at the end
Het gaat regenen.
It's going to rain.
you can see it coming
✗Morgen ik werk thuis.
✓Morgen werk ik thuis.
You started with Morgen, so the verb comes straight after it, before ik.
✗Ik ga te koken vanavond.
✓Ik ga vanavond koken.
No te after gaan. The real action goes to the very end.
✗Ik ben van plan om verhuizen.
✓Ik ben van plan om te verhuizen.
om always comes with te, right before the last verb.
zullen is not wrong. It is just heavier than English will. Use it for three jobs: a promise, a guess about how things will turn out, and formal language like letters and the news.
For intentions (things you have decided, but not arranged yet) use van plan zijn om … te: to plan to, to intend to.
Ik zal het morgen opsturen.
I'll send it tomorrow.
a promise
Ik zal erop letten.
I'll keep an eye on it.
a promise
Dat zal wel lukken.
That'll work out, I'm sure.
a guess: zal wel = probably
De gemeente zal u een brief sturen.
The municipality will send you a letter.
formal
De nieuwe bibliotheek zal in mei opengaan.
The new library will open in May.
news language
Ik ben van plan om een cursus te volgen.
I'm planning to take a course.
van plan zijn om … te
Ik ben van plan om te stoppen met roken.
I'm planning to quit smoking.
van plan zijn om … te
watch out
Using zullen for a normal plan sounds like a solemn promise, as if someone doubted you. 'Ik zal morgen naar mijn werk gaan' sounds odd. Just say: Morgen ga ik naar mijn werk.
Quick test: promising something? zal. Planning something? ga, or just the present tense.