Talking about the Future

Understanding how to discuss the future in French involves considering various ways to express the future tense.
The simple future (futur simple) is generally the equivalent of “will” in English. It is formed by adding the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, and -ont to the infinities of regular verbs. For example, ‘je parlerai’ translates to ‘I will talk.’
The futur proche (near future) is used to express something that is going to happen soon. It’s made up of the verb ‘aller’ (to go) in the present tense plus the infinitive of the main verb. For example, ‘je vais parler’ translates to ‘I am going to talk.’
There are certain verbs that have irregular stems in the future simple. These include ‘avoir’ and ‘être’, among others. For these verbs, learners need to first memorize the irregular stem: ‘aur-‘ for ‘avoir’ and ‘ser-‘ for ‘être’. The full forms become ‘j’aurai’ (I will have) and ‘je serai’ (I will be).
French, like English, also use modal verbs to express the future, including “devoir” (must/have to) and “pouvoir” (can). For example, ‘je dois étudier’ means ‘I must study,’ showing a necessity in the future.
The conditional tense is frequently used in sentences discussing future actions, often expressing politeness or uncertainty. Formed using the future simple stem plus the imperfect endings. For example ‘j’aimerais’ (I would like).
Time markers are also essential when discussing future events. Terms such as ‘demain’ (tomorrow), ‘prochainement’ (soon), ‘dans le futur’ (in the future), ‘après’ (after), and ‘l’année prochaine’ (next year) help provide context to the timing of future events.
Practice constructing sentences using different verbs, tenses, and time markers to solidify understanding of how to express the future in French. Always check spelling and conjugation rules to ensure accuracy.
Remember to also focus on comprehension - being able to understand when someone else is talking about the future is equally important. Try spending time listening to French conversations and identifying the use of future verb tenses and phrases.
Additionally, pay special attention to how questions about the future are formed. For instances, ‘Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire demain ?’ (What are you going to do tomorrow?) combines the use of futur proche with a time marker.