Near Future / Progressive
English speakers often want to talk about what is going to happen soon or what is happening right now. French has clear ways to express the near future and the ongoing present, so learners can plan and describe actions with precision.
Near Future
The near future in French is formed with aller in the present followed by an infinitive, and it expresses an intention or a very soon event. Use this construction for plans, predictions grounded in current evidence, and decisions you have effectively made.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| je vais partir | I am going to leave |
| tu vas prendre | you are going to take |
| il/elle/on va arriver | he/she/one is going to arrive |
| nous allons manger | we are going to eat |
| vous allez finir | you are going to finish |
| ils/elles vont regarder | they are going to watch |
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ Je vais au café. | I am going to the café. |
| 🏃♂️ Tu vas courir au parc. | You are going to run in the park. |
| 📚 Elle va étudier sur la terrasse. | She is going to study on the terrace. |
| 🍰 Nous allons goûter des pâtisseries. | We are going to taste some pastries. |
| 🚲 Vous allez faire du vélo en ville. | You are going to ride a bike in the city. |
| 🎨 Ils vont visiter une galerie. | They are going to visit a gallery. |
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Progressive / Ongoing Actions
To emphasize an action in progress at the moment, French uses être en train de plus l'infinitif. This highlights that the activity is underway right now, unlike the simple present which can state habitual or general actions.
| French Phrase | English Phrase |
|---|---|
| je suis en train de lire | I am (in the middle of) reading |
| tu es en train de faire | you are (in the middle of) doing |
| il/elle/on est en train de cuisiner | he/she/one is (in the middle of) cooking |
| nous sommes en train de travailler | we are (in the middle of) working |
| vous êtes en train de regarder | you are (in the middle of) watching |
| ils/elles sont en train de jouer | they are (in the middle of) playing |
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ Je suis en train de boire un café. | I am drinking a coffee. |
| 🐕 Tu es en train de promener ton chien. | You are walking your dog. |
| 📖 Elle est en train de lire un livre. | She is reading a book. |
| 🥐 Nous sommes en train de manger des croissants. | We are eating croissants. |
| 🎶 Vous êtes en train d’écouter de la musique. | You are listening to music. |
| 🏀 Ils sont en train de jouer au ballon. | They are playing with a ball. |
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Summary
Use aller + infinitive for the near future to express plans and imminent actions, and use être en train de + infinitive to highlight an action currently in progress. These turns help learners convey timing and aspect clearly when speaking about upcoming or ongoing events.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025