Future with Reflexive Verbs

When reflexive verbs are conjugated in the future, the reflexive pronouns (-me, -te, -se, -nos) are placed between the verb stem and the conjugated ending, separated by two hyphens.

• Eu defender-me-ei. (I will defend myself.)
• Tu esquecer-te-ás. (You will forget.)
• Você/Ele/Ela sentar-se-á aqui. (You [formal]/He/She will sit here.)
• Nós lembrar-nos-emos. (We will remember.)
• Vocês/Eles/Elas levantar-se-ão. (You [plural]/They will get up.)

In colloquial language, it is more common to convey the future by using the verb ir (in its present forms) + the infinitive:

• Vou almoçar. (I am going to have lunch.)

When using this construction the pronoun can be placed after any of the verbs.

So, as an example, with the reflexive verb defender-se (to defend oneself) it is correct to say either:

• Vou defender-me. (I will defend myself.)
• Vou-me defender. (I will defend myself.)

Notice that, in the first person plural (nós), when the reflexive pronoun comes after the verb, the final -s of the verb is dropped.

• Nós vamos + -nos defender ➡ nós vamo-nos defender (We will defend ourselves).