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French grammar · Level A1–A2

Futur proche and futur simple: the future in French

French has two main ways to talk about the future. The futur proche is aller + infinitive: Je vais partir — “I’m going to leave”. It’s simple, conversational and the most common. The futur simple has its own verb forms: Je partirai demain — “I will leave tomorrow”. It sounds more formal and is more frequent in writing, forecasts and promises.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Futur proche: aller + infinitive
  2. Futur simple: how it’s formed
  3. Irregular futur simple stems
  4. Which one to use
  5. After si: présent; after quand: futur
  6. Common mistakes
  7. Quiz
  8. FAQ

Futur proche: aller + infinitive

Aller in the présent + the infinitive of the main verb. It’s the easiest way to talk about the future — you only need the six forms of aller. The negative goes around aller: Je ne vais pas venir.

The futur proche
PersonExample
jeje vais manger
tutu vas voir
il / elleil va pleuvoir
nousnous allons partir
vousvous allez adorer
ils / ellesils vont arriver
  • Je vais appeler ma mère ce soir.I’m going to call my mum tonight.
  • Attention, tu vas tomber !Careful, you’re going to fall!
  • Nous n’allons pas rester longtemps.We aren’t going to stay long.

Futur simple: how it’s formed

Add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont to the infinitive; verbs in -re drop the final -e: prendre → je prendrai. The endings look like the forms of avoir: j’ai, tu as, il a…

Futur simple of regular verbs
Personparlerfinirprendre
jeparleraifiniraiprendrai
tuparlerasfinirasprendras
il / elleparlerafiniraprendra
nousparleronsfinironsprendrons
vousparlerezfinirezprendrez
ils / ellesparlerontfinirontprendront

Irregular futur simple stems

The most common verbs have their own stem, but the same endings. The full tables of each verb are on the conjugation pages.

Verbs with irregular stems
InfinitiveStemExample
êtreser-je serai
avoiraur-j’aurai
allerir-j’irai
fairefer-je ferai
pouvoirpourr-je pourrai
vouloirvoudr-je voudrai
venirviendr-je viendrai
voirverr-je verrai
savoirsaur-je saurai
devoirdevr-je devrai

Which one to use

The futur proche is for what has been decided or is about to happen, and for conversation in general. The futur simple is for forecasts, promises, the distant future and formal texts. Often both work — the difference is style.

Futur proche or futur simple
Futur procheFutur simple
a plan: Je vais acheter une voiture.a forecast: Il fera beau demain.
about to happen: Le film va commencer.a promise: Je t’appellerai.
conversationwriting, news, formal texts

After si: présent; after quand: futur

In conditional sentences, si (if) is never followed by the future — only the présent; the future goes in the main clause: S’il fait beau, nous irons à la plage. But after quand (when) French does use the futur simple: Quand je serai grand, je serai pilote.

  • S’il pleut, je resterai à la maison.If it rains, I’ll stay at home.
  • Quand tu arriveras, appelle-moi.Call me when you arrive.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Je vais à partir demain.

    Right: Je vais partir demain.

    aller takes an infinitive without à.

  • Wrong: Si il fera beau, nous irons à la plage.

    Right: S’il fait beau, nous irons à la plage.

    si takes the présent (and si il becomes s’il).

  • Wrong: J’allerai à Paris.

    Right: J’irai à Paris.

    aller has the stem ir-.

  • Wrong: Je prenderai le train.

    Right: Je prendrai le train.

    Verbs in -re drop the final -e.

  • Wrong: Je ne vais partir pas.

    Right: Je ne vais pas partir.

    ne… pas goes around aller.

Futur proche and futur simple

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Ce soir, je _____ regarder un film.

  2. Question 2

    Demain, nous _____ à la mer.

  3. Question 3

    Selon la météo, il _____ beau demain.

  4. Question 4

    Tu _____ ton examen, j’en suis sûr.

  5. Question 5

    Si tu _____ le temps, viens nous voir.

  6. Question 6

    Attention, le bus _____ partir !

  7. Question 7

    Quand je _____ grand, je serai médecin.

  8. Question 8

    Je _____ te voir la semaine prochaine.

  9. Question 9

    Ils ne _____ pas venir ce soir.

  10. Question 10

    Je t’_____ dès que je serai à la maison.

Correct: 0 of 10

Read next

FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

How is the futur proche different from the futur simple?

The futur proche (je vais partir) is conversational — for plans and things about to happen. The futur simple (je partirai) is for forecasts, promises and the distant future, more often in writing. In everyday speech the futur proche is far more common.

Can I get by with just the futur proche?

At A1–A2, in conversation, yes — you’ll be understood. But you need to recognise the futur simple in texts and use it in conditionals (si + présent → futur) and in the DELF exam.

How do I remember the futur simple endings?

They’re almost the forms of avoir in the présent: (j’)ai, (tu) as, (il) a, (nous) av-ons, (vous) av-ez, (ils) ont. Add them to the infinitive: parler → je parlerai.

Other topics

All topicsFrench verb conjugationFrench irregular verbs

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