This French 3 lesson explains French simple future step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French simple future and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: The simple future (le futur simple) says what will happen. For most verbs, keep the whole infinitive and add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont; for -re verbs, drop the final e first. About a dozen common verbs use irregular stems, such as ser-, aur-, ir-, fer- and pourr-. After quand, French uses the future too.
Level: French 3 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Low) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Low, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational
French simple future: the lesson
How do you form the simple future?
Definition
The futur simple is one word, not two. Take the infinitive, keep its final r, and add the endings of the present tense of avoir: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. Verbs ending in -re lose their final e first.
| Subject | parler | finir | vendre |
|---|---|---|---|
| je / j’ | parlerai | finirai | vendrai |
| tu | parleras | finiras | vendras |
| il / elle / on | parlera | finira | vendra |
| nous | parlerons | finirons | vendrons |
| vous | parlerez | finirez | vendrez |
| ils / elles | parleront | finiront | vendront |
When do you use the simple future?
Use it for plans, predictions and promises: Samedi, Inès jouera contre Laval. — On Saturday, Inès will play against Laval. Je t’écrirai dès que possible. — I’ll write to you as soon as possible. In conversation, aller + infinitive often replaces it for near plans, but the simple future sounds better for promises, predictions and writing.
Which verbs have irregular stems?
| Infinitive | Stem | Example |
|---|---|---|
| être | ser- | je serai |
| avoir | aur- | tu auras |
| aller | ir- | elle ira |
| faire | fer- | nous ferons |
| pouvoir | pourr- | vous pourrez |
| voir | verr- | ils verront |
| venir | viendr- | je viendrai |
| vouloir | voudr- | tu voudras |
| savoir | saur- | elles sauront |
Same endings, new stem
Demain, nous serons à Dakar et nous ferons du bateau. — Tomorrow we will be in Dakar and go boating.
What happens after quand?
Rule
When the action happens later, French puts both verbs in the future after quand (when): Quand Kofi arrivera à Montréal, il goûtera la poutine.
Watch out
English says When he arrives (present). French cannot copy that: Quand il arrive, … would mean whenever he arrives. Also remember a few spelling changes: j’achèterai, j’appellerai, je paierai, j’enverrai.
The same logic works with other time words that look ahead: Dès que j’aurai fini, je sortirai. — As soon as I have finished, I will go out. Lorsque vous serez prêts, nous partirons. — When you are ready, we will leave. In each case the English present tense becomes a French future.
Zoé’s tip
Say the infinitive in your head, then add ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont like a train hooking on its cars. For irregular verbs, learn the stem by heart: it ends with an r sound.
Culture note
Weather forecasts on French radio are full of the simple future: Demain, il pleuvra sur le nord et le soleil reviendra dans le Midi.
Key points to remember
- Regular verbs: infinitive + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont (-re verbs lose the final e).
- The endings are the same for every verb, regular or irregular; only the stem changes.
- Key irregular stems: être ser-, avoir aur-, aller ir-, faire fer-, pouvoir pourr-, voir verr-.
- After quand, French uses the future when the action is still ahead, unlike English.
- Every future stem ends in -r, so the sound of an r always comes before the ending.
Making Plans and Promises in the Simple Future: frequently asked questions
How do you form the futur simple of regular verbs?
Start from the infinitive and add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. For -re verbs, drop the final e first: vendre becomes je vendrai.
Which French verbs have irregular future stems?
The most useful are être (ser-), avoir (aur-), aller (ir-), faire (fer-), pouvoir (pourr-), voir (verr-), venir (viendr-), vouloir (voudr-) and savoir (saur-). The endings stay regular.
Do you use the future after quand in French?
Yes, when the action has not happened yet. Say Quand j’arriverai, je t’appellerai, not Quand j’arrive. English uses the present here, but French does not.
What is the difference between the futur simple and aller + infinitive?
Aller + infinitive is the near future and is common in speech for immediate plans. The simple future fits promises, predictions, formal writing and plans that are further away.
How do you pronounce the future endings?
The endings -ai and -as sound alike in many accents, while -a, -ons and -ont are distinct. The final -ai of je parlerai sounds like the é of café.