The French future tense expresses actions that will happen, equivalent to the English \"will\" or \"shall.\" It is used for predictions, promises, and scheduled events. The main form, le futur simple, is created by adding specific endings to verb stems, while some verbs have irregular stems.
- Used for actions that will occur in the future (e.g., Je parlerai = I will speak).
- Main form: Futur simple (verb stem + endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont).
- Applies to all verb groups, but some verbs have irregular stems.
- Also used for polite requests or suggestions.
The future tense expresses actions that will happen, as well as predictions and promises.
The 'ils/elles' ending for the futur simple is ‐ont.
A1 Futur Simple
The futur simple endings are: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. For regular verbs, add these endings to the infinitive (for -re verbs, drop the final 'e').
- Infinitive used as stem for -er and -ir verbs (e.g., parler, finir).
- For -re verbs, remove the final 'e' from the infinitive (vendre → vendr-).
- Example with parler: Je parlerai, tu parleras, il parlera, nous parlerons, vous parlerez, ils parleront.
For -er and -ir verbs, use the full infinitive as the stem for futur simple.
For -re verbs, remove the final 'e' from the infinitive to form the futur stem.
The futur simple endings are -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
A2 Irregular Verbs
Some common verbs use special stems in the future:
- être → ser-
- avoir → aur-
- aller → ir-
- faire → fer-
- venir → viendr-
- voir → verr-
- pouvoir → pourr-
- vouloir → voudr-
- savoir → saur-
Apply the usual -ai, -as... endings to these stems.
- Irregular stems replace the infinitive for these verbs.
- The same endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont) are used as for regular verbs.
Verbs like être (ser-), avoir (aur-), faire (fer-), and venir (viendr-) have irregular future stems.
The future stem for 'avoir' is 'aur-'.
Irregular stems take the standard future endings.
The French future tense, or futur simple, is a straightforward way to express future actions, using regular endings attached to either the infinitive or special stems for some verbs. Understanding its forms and irregular patterns helps you talk about what’s coming with confidence.
- Use futur simple for future actions, predictions, and promises.
- Regular verbs: add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont to the infinitive (drop 'e' for -re verbs).
- Some verbs have unique stems for the future tense.
Futur simple is used for future events, predictions, and promises.
The endings are -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
Common irregular stems include être, avoir, aller, and faire.