Grammar: Verbs - Future Tenses
Grammar: Verbs - Future Tenses
Section: Le Futur Simple (Simple Future)
- The le futur simple tense is formed by using the infinitive for -ER and -IR verbs. For -RE verbs, you remove the -e from the infinitive. This is your ‘stem’.
- To these stems, you add the future tense endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. For example, parler (to speak) becomes je parlerai (I will speak).
- There are irregular verbs with unique stems that need to be memorised. For example, être (to be) becomes ser-, and aller (to go) becomes ir-.
Section: Le Futur Proche (Near Future)
- The le futur proche tense expresses something that is going to happen soon. It uses the present tense of the verb aller (to go) plus the infinitive of the main verb. For example, Je vais manger (I’m going to eat).
- Remember to conjugate aller to agree with the subject of the sentence. (Je vais, Tu vas, Il/Elle/On va, Nous allons, Vous allez, Ils/Elles vont).
Section: Use of Future Tenses
- Use the futur simple for events in the distant future or when emphasising a promise or a prediction.
- Use the futur proche for events in the immediate future or when indicating an intention.
Section: Key Verb Stems for the Futur Simple
- être: ser-
- avoir: aur-
- faire: fer-
- aller: ir-
- savoir: saur-
- venir: viendr-
- vouloir: voudr-
- pouvoir: pourr-
Learn these irregular stems as they are commonly used and greatly expand your ability to express future activities and plans. Remember to add the futur simple endings to these stems.