Fact like future
Fact like or back ground future is expressed with plain present in Danish:
Det er påske næste uge It'll be Easter next week.
Subjective future
Slightly uncertain, estimated or prophetic future is expressed with
vil plus infinitive:
Det vil blive svært at finde adressen, hvis du ikke tager et kort med. It'll be difficult to find the adress if you don't bring a map
Toget vil være 5-10 minutter forsinket. The train will be 5-10 minutes late.
Structured future
If you consider plans for the future, make suggestions for the future, regulate or instruct for the future you use
skal plus infinitive:
Du skal aflevere bogen inden på mandag. You'll have to bring back the book before Monday.
Jeg synes vi skal fejre din fødselsdag i jacuzzien. I suggest, we'll celebrate your birthday in the jacuzzi
The most disturbing mistakes are overusing future with
skal og
vil. If you for example want to invite your friends to your birthday party, the party is allready a fact so you write:
Jeg holder fødselsdag.. Writing
Jeg skal holde fest would make the the recipient think that you for example have not found a date yet but want to discuss your plans or need a reciepi. Using
vil would make the party somewhat uncertain, and your friends might expect to recieve the real invitation later.
For a description of future in Danish,
click here
Write present form or vil/skal plus infinitive of the verb i paranthesis in the box