The future and immediate future tensesWhen to use the future tense

The future and the immediate future tense are both used to talk about what will happen in the future. Find out how these are formed using regular and irregular verbs.

Part ofFrenchVerbs and tenses

When to use the future tense

An explanation of the tense that is used when talking about things that will happen in the future

The future tense is used to talk about what will happen in the future. The future tense is often used with time phrases such as:

FrenchEnglish
BientôtSoon
DemainTomorrow
Plus tardLater
Ce soirTonight
La semaine prochaineNext week
Lundi prochainNext Monday
Le mois prochainNext month
Le week-end prochainNext weekend
L'année prochaineNext year
FrenchBientôt
EnglishSoon
FrenchDemain
EnglishTomorrow
FrenchPlus tard
EnglishLater
FrenchCe soir
EnglishTonight
FrenchLa semaine prochaine
EnglishNext week
FrenchLundi prochain
EnglishNext Monday
FrenchLe mois prochain
EnglishNext month
FrenchLe week-end prochain
EnglishNext weekend
FrenchL'année prochaine
EnglishNext year

Example:

  • la semaine prochaine, je regarderai moins la télé - I'll watch less TV next week

How to form the future tense

With regular -er and -ir verbs the following endings are added to the infinitive of the verb:

EnglishSubject pronounFuture ending
Ije/j'ai
you (informal)tuas
he/she/it (we)il/elle/ona
wenousons
you (formal, plural)vousez
theyils/ellesont
EnglishI
Subject pronounje/j'
Future endingai
Englishyou (informal)
Subject pronountu
Future endingas
Englishhe/she/it (we)
Subject pronounil/elle/on
Future endinga
Englishwe
Subject pronounnous
Future endingons
Englishyou (formal, plural)
Subject pronounvous
Future endingez
Englishthey
Subject pronounils/elles
Future endingont

For example, endings of the future tense (with the regular verb regarder - to watch) are:

  • je regarderai - I will watch
  • tu regarderas - you will watch
  • il/elle/on regardera - he/she/it (we) will watch
  • nous regarderons - we will watch
  • vous regarderez - you will watch
  • ils/elles regarderont - they will watch

More examples with -er and -ir verbs:

  • jouer → je jouerai - I will play
  • finir → il finira - he will finish
  • écouter → elles écouteront - they will listen

With regular -re verbs, take the final -e off the infinitive and add the endings:

  • prendre → je prendrai (I will take)
  • vendre → il vendra - He will sell
Next page
Irregular verbs in the future tense

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