I can talk about plans and promises: what I'll do tomorrow, next year, and in ten years — and not confuse the futur simple (the future tense: “will” + verb) with the futur proche.
What I will do: futur simple
What I will do: futur simple
The futur simple (the future tense: “will” + verb) is for plans, promises, and forecasts. Its time expressions: demain, la semaine prochaine, le mois prochain, l'année prochaine, dans dix ans, bientôt, plus tard.
The form is simple: take the whole infinitive and add the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. They match the présent of avoir, so there's nothing new to learn (nous and vous: -ons, -ez, without av-).
With -re verbs the final -e drops: prendre gives je prendrai, écrire gives j'écrirai, attendre gives nous attendrons.
Thirteen verbs have an irregular stem but the same endings: see the second table.
After quand French uses the future, though English says “when I get”: Quand j'aurai mon diplôme, je chercherai un poste.
The futur proche (aller + infinitive) is for what's decided and about to start: the bag is packed, the train is leaving. The futur simple is a plan, a promise, a forecast.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Je faireai ce travail” — the stem is fer-; correct: Je ferai ce travail.
• NOT “Nous prendreons le train” — -re verbs drop the final -e; correct: Nous prendrons le train.
• NOT “Quand j'ai mon diplôme, je chercherai un poste” — after quand, use the future.
Endings of the futur simple
The stem is the whole infinitive; -re verbs drop the final -e.
| Person | Ending | parler | finir | prendre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | -ai | parlerai | finirai | prendrai |
| tu | -as | parleras | finiras | prendras |
| il / elle | -a | parlera | finira | prendra |
| nous | -ons | parlerons | finirons | prendrons |
| vous | -ez | parlerez | finirez | prendrez |
| ils / elles | -ont | parleront | finiront | prendront |
Thirteen irregular stems
A different stem, the same endings — learn the whole list.
| Infinitive | Stem | Example |
|---|---|---|
| être | ser- | ils seront |
| avoir | aur- | nous aurons |
| aller | ir- | tu iras |
| faire | fer- | je ferai |
| venir | viendr- | il viendra |
| pouvoir | pourr- | vous pourrez |
| vouloir | voudr- | je voudrai |
| devoir | devr- | tu devras |
| savoir | saur- | elle saura |
| voir | verr- | nous verrons |
| envoyer | enverr- | vous enverrez |
| falloir | faudr- | il faudra |
| pleuvoir | pleuvr- | il pleuvra |
Lesson notes
What I will do: futur simple
The futur simple (the future tense: “will” + verb) is for plans, promises, and forecasts. Its time expressions: demain, la semaine prochaine, le mois prochain, l'année prochaine, dans dix ans, bientôt, plus tard.
The form is simple: take the whole infinitive and add the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. They match the présent of avoir, so there's nothing new to learn (nous and vous: -ons, -ez, without av-).
With -re verbs the final -e drops: prendre gives je prendrai, écrire gives j'écrirai, attendre gives nous attendrons.
Thirteen verbs have an irregular stem but the same endings: see the second table.
After quand French uses the future, though English says “when I get”: Quand j'aurai mon diplôme, je chercherai un poste.
The futur proche (aller + infinitive) is for what's decided and about to start: the bag is packed, the train is leaving. The futur simple is a plan, a promise, a forecast.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Je faireai ce travail” — the stem is fer-; correct: Je ferai ce travail.
• NOT “Nous prendreons le train” — -re verbs drop the final -e; correct: Nous prendrons le train.
• NOT “Quand j'ai mon diplôme, je chercherai un poste” — after quand, use the future.