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French Future Tense Overview
The French future tense (futur simple) expresses actions that will happen in the future. It's equivalent to "will + verb" in English and is used for planned actions, predictions, and promises.
French also has the futur proche (near future: aller + infinitive), but the futur simple is more formal and used for more distant or definite future actions.
Examples
Je parlerai avec le directeur demain.
I will speak with the director tomorrow.
Il pleuvra ce week-end.
It will rain this weekend.
Nous finirons le projet la semaine prochaine.
We will finish the project next week.
Future Tense Formation
The French future tense is formed by adding future endings to the infinitive of the verb. For -re verbs, drop the final -e before adding endings.
Formula: Infinitive (or stem) + future endings
-ER/-IR verbs: Keep full infinitive + endings
-RE verbs: Drop final -e + endings
Future Tense Endings
All French verbs use the same future endings:
Future Tense Endings (All Verbs)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| je | -ai | I will |
| tu | -as | you will |
| il/elle/on | -a | he/she/one will |
| nous | -ons | we will |
| vous | -ez | you will |
| ils/elles | -ont | they will |
parler → je parlerai, tu parleras, il parlera...
to speak → I will speak, you will speak, he will speak...
Regular Verb Examples
Here are examples for each verb group:
Parler (to speak) - Future Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| je | parlerai | I will speak |
| tu | parleras | you will speak |
| il/elle/on | parlera | he/she/one will speak |
| nous | parlerons | we will speak |
| vous | parlerez | you will speak |
| ils/elles | parleront | they will speak |
Je finirai mes devoirs ce soir.
I will finish my homework tonight. (finir)
Nous vendrons notre maison.
We will sell our house. (vendre → vendr-)
Irregular Future Stems
Some common verbs have irregular future stems that must be memorized. However, they still use the regular future endings.
Common Irregular Future Stems
These verbs have irregular stems in the future tense:
Irregular Future Stems
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| être (to be) | ser- | je serai, tu seras... |
| avoir (to have) | aur- | j'aurai, tu auras... |
| aller (to go) | ir- | j'irai, tu iras... |
| faire (to do/make) | fer- | je ferai, tu feras... |
| voir (to see) | verr- | je verrai, tu verras... |
| venir (to come) | viendr- | je viendrai, tu viendras... |
Je serai médecin un jour.
I will be a doctor one day.
Tu auras de bonnes notes.
You will have good grades.
Nous irons en vacances cet été.
We will go on vacation this summer.
More Irregular Stems
Additional irregular future stems to memorize:
More Irregular Future Stems
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| pouvoir (can) | pourr- | je pourrai (I will be able) |
| vouloir (to want) | voudr- | je voudrai (I will want) |
| savoir (to know) | saur- | je saurai (I will know) |
| devoir (must) | devr- | je devrai (I will have to) |
| recevoir (to receive) | recevr- | je recevrai (I will receive) |
| envoyer (to send) | enverr- | j'enverrai (I will send) |
Elle pourra venir avec nous.
She will be able to come with us.
Je devrai étudier plus.
I will have to study more.
Vous recevrez une réponse bientôt.
You will receive an answer soon.
Uses of the Future Tense
The French future tense is used in several contexts:
1. Future actions: Planned or predicted events
2. Promises: Commitments and assurances
3. Suppositions: Assumptions about the present
4. Commands: Polite orders or instructions
5. After certain conjunctions: quand, lorsque, dès que, aussitôt que
Examples
Je partirai à huit heures.
I will leave at eight o'clock. (planned action)
Je t'aiderai, c'est promis.
I will help you, I promise. (promise)
Il sera probablement en retard.
He will probably be late. (supposition)
Tu feras tes devoirs avant de sortir.
You will do your homework before going out. (command)
Quand tu arriveras, nous mangerons.
When you arrive, we will eat. (after quand)
Future vs Futur Proche
French has two ways to express the future:
Futur Simple (will + verb): More formal, distant future, definite plans
Futur Proche (going to + verb): Immediate future, informal, near certainty
Both are correct, but the choice depends on context and formality level.
Examples
Je parlerai français couramment un jour.
I will speak French fluently one day. (distant future)
Je vais parler avec lui maintenant.
I'm going to speak with him now. (immediate)
Il pleuvra demain selon la météo.
It will rain tomorrow according to the weather. (prediction)
Il va pleuvoir, regarde ces nuages!
It's going to rain, look at those clouds! (immediate certainty)
Time Expressions with Future
Common time expressions used with the future tense:
Near future: demain, ce soir, la semaine prochaine, bientôt
Distant future: un jour, dans l'avenir, plus tard, dans dix ans
Conditional time: quand, lorsque, dès que, aussitôt que
These expressions help indicate when to use the future tense.
Examples
Demain, je commencerai un nouveau travail.
Tomorrow, I will start a new job.
Dans dix ans, nous habiterons peut-être à l'étranger.
In ten years, we will perhaps live abroad.
Dès que j'aurai de l'argent, j'achèterai une voiture.
As soon as I have money, I will buy a car.
Un jour, tu comprendras.
One day, you will understand.
Future in Conditional Sentences
In French, when the main clause is in the future, the subordinate clause after si (if) uses the present tense, not the future.
Pattern: Si + present, future
English: If + present, will + verb
This is different from English, where "will" can appear in both clauses.
Examples
Si tu étudies, tu réussiras.
If you study, you will succeed.
Si il fait beau, nous irons à la plage.
If the weather is nice, we will go to the beach.
Si elle vient, je serai très content.
If she comes, I will be very happy.
❌ Si tu viendras... ✅ Si tu viens, je viendrai.
❌ If you will come... ✅ If you come, I will come.