Simple Future in FrenchA2

You’re about to say what will happen, from tomorrow’s plans to a promise made on the spot. Start with the futur simple form, then build sentences that point confidently toward the future.

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Value of the simple future

The simple future places the action after the moment when one speaks. It presents an upcoming fact as viewed from a distance, without bringing it into the present. It is used for an event that has not yet taken place, for a future state, or for an idea projected into the future. In , the departure is situated after now. In , the verb expresses a projection into the future. The simple future also serves to give the statement a value of certainty, because the speaker presents the event as planned or considered assured.

When to use the future

The simple future is chosen to announce a project that has already been formed, as in . It also appears in intentions and decisions made at the moment when one speaks, for example . For a prediction, the simple future presents an expected result, as in . It is used to promise, as in , to threaten, as in , and to formulate a polite request in sentences such as or . In Vocabulary related to future projects and plans, this type of context is often found.

Common situations for the simple future
Usage	Explanation
Project	The simple future is used to announce a project that is still to come.
Intention	The simple future is used to express a firm intention.
Prediction	The simple future is chosen to make a prediction about what will happen.
Promise	The simple future is used to promise something to someone.
Threat	The simple future is used to express a threat or a warning.
Polite request	The simple future is chosen to soften a request in a polite context.

Future or near present

The present can refer to an already organized future, especially in speech. One says , , . The simple future remains possible, but it brings a clearer distance and a more formal or general tone. presents the departure as an announced future fact, whereas emphasizes an already established schedule. With markers such as , or , the present works when the action is prepared or entered on a calendar. To see the difference from the other future tenses, Future tenses in French: overview provides a useful framework.

Choosing between the simple future and the near future
Usage	Explanation
Already organized project	The present is often used for an already planned future when the action is organized.
More distant future	The simple future is used to mark distance or a clearer projection.
Spontaneous spoken announcement	In speech, the present is often preferred for a near and certain future.
Prediction	The simple future is better suited to presenting a hypothesis about the future than an already fixed project.

Future or conditional

The simple future asserts an upcoming fact. The conditional presents an action as dependent on a condition, a hypothesis, or unconfirmed information. announces an arrival. depends on a condition. The simple future is also used in firmer statements, such as . The conditional softens a request, as in , or marks caution, as in . To compare the two forms in similar sentences, Conditional and simple future: comparison explores the contrasts in meaning and form in greater depth.

Differences between the future and conditional
Usage	Explanation
Certain action	The simple future is chosen for an action presented as certain.
Hypothesis	The conditional is used for an action dependent on a condition or less certain.
Mitigated request	The conditional is used to soften a request or a proposal.
Caution	The conditional is used to express cautious information or information reported with reservation.

Future of -er verbs

For verbs, take the complete infinitive and add the simple future endings. With , one obtains , , , , , . The stem therefore remains identical to the infinitive. One says , or in the same way. This regularity makes verbs very easy to form, including in common sentences such as .

Simple future of -er verbs
Subject	Infinitive	Conjugation
je	parler	parlerai
tu	parler	parleras
il ou elle	parler	parlera
nous	parler	parlerons
vous	parler	parlerez
ils ou elles	parler	parleront

Future of -ir verbs

verbs follow the same principle when their infinitive serves as the base for the future. Keep the infinitive and add the endings: . With , one says ; with , . In sentences such as or , the stem remains recognizable and the ending carries the person information. Regular verbs therefore use the same structure as verbs, without a change in the base.

Simple future of -ir verbs
Subject	Infinitive	Conjugation
je	finir	finirai
tu	finir	finiras
il ou elle	finir	finira
nous	finir	finirons
vous	finir	finirez
ils ou elles	finir	finiront

Future of -re verbs

verbs lose their final before adding the simple future endings. With , the future gives , , , , , . With , one obtains and . The disappears before the endings, but the rest of the stem remains stable. This form appears in sentences such as or .

Simple future of -re verbs
Subject	Infinitive	Conjugation
je	vendre	vendrai
tu	vendre	vendras
il ou elle	vendre	vendra
nous	vendre	vendrons
vous	vendre	vendrez
ils ou elles	vendre	vendront

Simple future endings

The simple future endings are the same for all regular verbs and for many irregular ones: , , , , , . In the first person singular, add : . In the second person singular, add : . In the third person singular, add : . In the first person plural, add : . In the second person plural, add : . In the third person plural, add : . These endings attach directly to the verb stem.

Regular simple future endings
Subject	Infinitive	Conjugation
je	parler	parlerai
tu	parler	parleras
il ou elle	parler	parlera
nous	parler	parlerons
vous	parler	parlerez
ils ou elles	parler	parleront

Common irregular stems

Some verbs do not keep the infinitive as the base for the future. They take a special stem, followed by the regular endings. gives , as in ; gives , as in ; gives , as in ; gives , as in . These stems must be memorized with their base verbs. They are often found in very common sentences, which makes them essential for speaking about the future.

Very common irregular stems
Idea
The verb être forms its future with the stem ser.
The verb avoir forms its future with the stem aur.
The verb aller forms its future with the stem ir.
The verb faire forms its future with the stem fer.

Other irregular stems

Other frequent verbs also have a particular stem in the future. becomes , as in and . becomes , as in and . becomes , as in . We also find with , with , and with . The operation remains the same: irregular stem + simple future ending. To enrich the vocabulary related to these forms, Vocabulary related to future projects and plans provides frequent contexts.

Other useful irregular stems
Idea
The verb venir forms its future with the stem viendr.
The verb voir forms its future with the stem verr.
The verb pouvoir forms its future with the stem pourr.
The verb envoyer forms its future with the stem enverr.

Future after a subordinate clause

In a main clause in the future, the subordinate clause that announces the time often begins with , , or and keeps the present. One says if the subordinate clause also expresses a future, but the standard rule of written and careful language is in the main action and only when the idea is general or habitual. In common usage when speaking about a specific future, the temporal subordinate clause in the present appears in constructions such as . The main verb remains in the simple future, because it is the one that carries the upcoming event.

Future in a sentence with a subordinate clause
Usage	Explanation
After when	In a sentence in the future, the present is often used in the subordinate clause with when and the future in the main clause.
After when	The present is used in the subordinate clause with when and the future in the main clause.
After as soon as	With as soon as, the verb in the subordinate clause is put in the present and the main verb in the future.
After as soon as	With as soon as, the subordinate clause remains in the present while the main clause takes the future.

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You can now form the futur simple, recognize its main uses, and choose between future, present, and conditional forms. Continue with Understanding the Uses of the Simple Future, then put your new skills into action in Simple Future Practice in Context.

Suggested Modules: A2