The Future Tense in French

The future tense in French is used to express actions that will take place in the future. There are two main future tenses in French: the futur simple and the futur proche.

Key Facts

  1. Futur Simple:
    • The futur simple is used to indicate actions that will take place in the future.
    • To conjugate regular verbs in the futur simple, you add the endings “-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont” to the infinitive form of the verb.
    • For example: “Je parlerai” (I will speak), “Tu parleras” (You will speak), “Il parlera” (He will speak), “Nous parlerons” (We will speak), “Vous parlerez” (You will speak), “Ils parleront” (They will speak).
  2. Futur Proche:
    • The futur proche is used to describe actions that will happen in the near future.
    • To form the futur proche, you use the present tense of the verb “aller” (to go) followed by the infinitive of the main verb.
    • For example: “Je vais parler” (I am going to speak), “Tu vas parler” (You are going to speak), “Il va parler” (He is going to speak), “Nous allons parler” (We are going to speak), “Vous allez parler” (You are going to speak), “Ils vont parler” (They are going to speak).

Futur Simple

The futur simple is used to indicate actions that will take place in the future. To conjugate regular verbs in the futur simple, you add the endings “-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont” to the infinitive form of the verb.

For example:

  • “Je parlerai” (I will speak)
  • “Tu parleras” (You will speak)
  • “Il parlera” (He will speak)
  • “Nous parlerons” (We will speak)
  • “Vous parlerez” (You will speak)
  • “Ils parleront” (They will speak)

Futur Proche

The futur proche is used to describe actions that will happen in the near future. To form the futur proche, you use the present tense of the verb “aller” (to go) followed by the infinitive of the main verb.

For example:

  • “Je vais parler” (I am going to speak)
  • “Tu vas parler” (You are going to speak)
  • “Il va parler” (He is going to speak)
  • “Nous allons parler” (We are going to speak)
  • “Vous allez parler” (You are going to speak)
  • “Ils vont parler” (They are going to speak)

Conclusion

The futur simple and the futur proche are two important tenses in French that are used to express actions that will take place in the future. By understanding how to use these tenses correctly, you can communicate more effectively in French.

Sources

FAQs

What are the two main future tenses in French?

The two main future tenses in French are the futur simple and the futur proche.

How is the futur simple formed?

To form the futur simple, you add the endings “-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont” to the infinitive form of the verb.

How is the futur proche formed?

To form the futur proche, you use the present tense of the verb “aller” (to go) followed by the infinitive of the main verb.

When do you use the futur simple?

You use the futur simple to talk about actions that will happen in the future, but not necessarily in the near future.

When do you use the futur proche?

You use the futur proche to talk about actions that will happen in the near future.

What are some examples of the futur simple?

Some examples of the futur simple are:

  • “Je parlerai” (I will speak)
  • “Tu parleras” (You will speak)
  • “Il parlera” (He will speak)
  • “Nous parlerons” (We will speak)
  • “Vous parlerez” (You will speak)
  • “Ils parleront” (They will speak)

What are some examples of the futur proche?

Some examples of the futur proche are:

  • “Je vais parler” (I am going to speak)
  • “Tu vas parler” (You are going to speak)
  • “Il va parler” (He is going to speak)
  • “Nous allons parler” (We are going to speak)
  • “Vous allez parler” (You are going to speak)
  • “Ils vont parler” (They are going to speak)

How can I practice using the future tenses in French?

You can practice using the future tenses in French by:

  • Reading French texts that use the future tenses
  • Listening to French audio recordings that use the future tenses
  • Writing French sentences and paragraphs that use the future tenses
  • Speaking French with native speakers or other learners and using the future tenses