This French 3 lesson explains futur simple and jobs in French step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on futur simple and jobs in French and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: To talk about careers in French, name the profession without an article after être (Elle est ingénieure), use the right feminine form (infirmier, infirmière), and describe your plans with the futur simple: the infinitive plus -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. Add polite interview phrases like je voudrais and je pourrai commencer.
Level: French 3 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Low) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Low, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 2.1 Cultural Practices
Futur simple and jobs in French: the lesson
How do I name a profession and make it feminine?
After être and devenir, French leaves out the article: Mia est infirmière. — Mia is a nurse. Add the article only with c’est or an adjective: C’est une excellente infirmière. — She is an excellent nurse.
| Masculine | Feminine | English |
|---|---|---|
| un infirmier | une infirmière | nurse |
| un coiffeur | une coiffeuse | hairdresser |
| un acteur | une actrice | actor |
| un électricien | une électricienne | electrician |
| un vétérinaire | une vétérinaire | veterinarian |
Watch out
English “She is a doctor” becomes Elle est médecin with no un or une. In Québec you may see une ingénieure and une professeure; in France la professeure is now common too.
How do I form the futur simple?
Rule
Take the whole infinitive and add the endings of avoir: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. Verbs in -re lose the final -e: prendre → je prendrai.
| Regular | Irregular stems |
|---|---|
| je travaillerai | être → je serai |
| tu finiras | avoir → j’aurai |
| elle prendra | aller → nous irons |
| nous partirons | faire → vous ferez |
| ils appelleront (appeler) | pouvoir → ils pourront |
Plans in the futur simple
Dans dix ans, Aïcha sera cheffe de cuisine à Lausanne. — In ten years, Aïcha will be a head chef in Lausanne.
Si je réussis mon bac, j’irai à l’université de Montréal. — If I pass my exam, I will go to the University of Montréal.
What do I say in a job ad or interview?
A job ad (une offre d’emploi) usually names the post, the contract and the documents to send. Know the terms: un CDI (permanent contract), un CDD (fixed-term contract), un stage (internship), un salaire (pay), un CV and une lettre de motivation (cover letter). In an interview, be polite: Je voudrais travailler avec des enfants. — I would like to work with children. Je pourrai commencer en juillet. — I will be able to start in July.
Culture note
Many French middle school students do a one-week stage d’observation in a workplace in ninth grade (la troisième) to discover a profession.
Zoé’s tip
Say the infinitive aloud and add the ending on top: chanter + ai. For the irregular verbs, learn the stem as a picture: ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-. They are the same for every person.
Key points to remember
- After être, a profession has no article: Il est vétérinaire, not Il est un vétérinaire.
- Many feminine forms change the ending: -ier → -ière, -eur → -euse or -rice, -ien → -ienne.
- Futur simple = infinitive + ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont (for -re verbs, drop the final e).
- Common irregular stems: être → ser-, avoir → aur-, aller → ir-, faire → fer-, pouvoir → pourr-.
- A job ad lists the post (le poste), the contract (CDI, CDD, stage), the salary and the documents to send.
From Job Ads to Job Interviews: frequently asked questions
Why is there no article after être with a profession?
French treats the profession like an adjective: Elle est avocate. Use an article only after c’est or when the noun has an adjective: C’est une avocate célèbre.
How do I make a profession feminine?
Follow the ending: -ier becomes -ière, -ien becomes -ienne, -eur becomes -euse or -rice, and -iste, -aire and many others do not change. Check the pattern before guessing.
When do I use the futur simple instead of aller + infinitive?
Use the futur simple for plans that are more distant, formal or promises: Je serai médecin. Use aller + infinitive for the near future: Je vais appeler l’entreprise ce soir.
Which verbs have irregular stems in the futur simple?
Common ones are être (ser-), avoir (aur-), aller (ir-), faire (fer-), pouvoir (pourr-), vouloir (voudr-), devoir (devr-), venir (viendr-) and voir (verr-). The endings are always the same.
What is the difference between a CDI and a CDD?
A CDI (contrat à durée indéterminée) is a permanent contract with no end date. A CDD (contrat à durée déterminée) has a fixed end date, for example a three-month summer job.