Reference · module 12
Plans and the future
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Futur simple
Talk about the future with the futur simple.
- The futur simple adds endings to the infinitive: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. Parler → je parlerai, tu parleras, il parlera, nous parlerons, vous parlerez, ils parleront.
- Verbs ending in -re drop the final e first: prendre → je prendrai, écrire → j'écrirai. The r always stays, and it is the sound that marks the future.
- Aller + infinitive is for the near, planned future and is very common in speech. The futur simple sounds more distant or formal: un jour, je visiterai le Japon.
The mistake you are about to make
je prenderai
je prendrai
Adding endings to the whole infinitive keeps the e by mistake. -re verbs lose it: je prendrai.
Irregular futures
Use the irregular future stems of the most common verbs.
- A few common verbs change their stem but keep the usual endings: être → je serai, avoir → j'aurai. Demain, je serai à Lyon et j'aurai le temps.
- Aller → j'irai and faire → je ferai. J'irai à la plage, je ferai du sport. The endings are exactly the same as for regular verbs.
- Three more to learn: venir → je viendrai, pouvoir → je pourrai, vouloir → je voudrai. Note pourrai has two r's.
The mistake you are about to make
j'allerai
j'irai
The regular rule builds allerai, which looks lawful. Aller has a special stem: j'irai.
Weather and conditions
Talk about the weather and what you will do if it changes.
- Weather mostly uses il fait: il fait beau — the weather is nice, il fait chaud — it is hot, il fait froid — it is cold, il fait 20 degrés.
- Rain and snow have their own verbs: il pleut — it is raining, il neige — it is snowing. In the future: il pleuvra, il neigera, il fera beau.
- For conditions use si with the present and the future in the result: s'il fait beau, nous irons à la plage. Never put the future after si.
The mistake you are about to make
S'il fera beau, nous irons à la plage.
S'il fait beau, nous irons à la plage.
English also avoids will after if, but learners translate the future idea. After si use the present: s'il fait beau.