Adjust Future Plans to the Weather
Weather forecasts affect what people are going to do. Connect va a llover, va a hacer sol, and temperature predictions to an indoor or outdoor plan.
Learning objective
Relate simple weather forecasts to suitable near-future activities.
A forecast is a statement about expected weather, and it can provide the reason for a near-future choice. At beginner level, connect familiar expressions such as va a llover, va a hacer sol, and va a hacer frío to an activity with porque, así que, or pero.
Weather expressions use different Spanish structures. Llover is a verb, so va a llover means it is going to rain. Hacer appears in va a hacer sol, calor, or frío, and Va a hacer treinta grados gives a simple expected temperature. Forecast wording varies by region and service.
Choose an activity that logically responds to the forecast. Va a llover, así que vamos a visitar el museo links rain to an indoor plan. The connector así que means so and presents a result, while porque introduces the reason after the plan: Vamos al museo porque va a llover.
Forecasts are uncertain, so keep the language proportional to the information. Parece que va a llover means it looks as though it will rain. If the plan is conditional, si no llueve means if it does not rain and uses a present form after si at this level, not the near-future structure.
Weather experience differs across climates, and words such as frío or calor are relative. Avoid broad claims about what all speakers do in certain weather. Explain your own practical link instead: Como va a hacer mucho calor, voy a caminar temprano y voy a llevar agua.
Examples
Va a llover por la tarde, así que vamos a quedarnos en casa.
It’s going to rain this afternoon, so we’re going to stay home.
The forecast directly explains the indoor plan.
Como va a hacer sol, voy a llevar un sombrero.
Since it’s going to be sunny, I’m going to take a hat.
Como at the beginning introduces the reason.
Si no hace frío, vamos a cenar fuera.
If it isn’t cold, we’re going to eat outside.
The present hace follows si and sets the condition.
Parece que va a haber una tormenta, así que no vamos a conducir.
It looks as though there’ll be a storm, so we aren’t going to drive.
The connector makes the forecast the reason for the changed plan.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Mañana va a estar lluvia, porque vamos a llevar paraguas.
- Try
- Mañana va a llover, así que vamos a llevar paraguas.
Rain is expressed with the verb llover, not estar plus lluvia. The forecast causes the decision to carry umbrellas, so así que introduces the result. Porque would reverse the relationship by saying the rain occurs because of the umbrellas.
Practice
Try it yourself
Choose a connector and produce two linked plans: (1) forecast: va a hacer mucho calor; response: swim early. (2) condition: no llover; response: have a picnic. Use ir a for both activities.