2. Uses of the future tense
• To describe plans for the future
L’année prochaine, j’irai en vacances avec mes parents.
• To predict what you think the future will be
Dans moins de 10 ans, j’aurai 3 enfants.
• To say what will happen if something else happens
Si je gagne la Lotto, j’achèterai une nouvelle voiture.
• To give an order
Vous ferez tes devoirs!
• To describe what will happen when or as soon as
Quand elles arriveront, nous irons au cinéma.
3. Forming the future tense
To form the future tense, take the infinitive of the verb
and add the following endings depending on the
subject.
Eg: Manger = to eat
Je mangerai
Tu mangeras
Il/Elle/On mangera
Nous mangerons
Vous mangerez
Ils/Elles mangeront
4. Forming the future tense
With verbs ending in RE, knock of the e before
adding the infinitive endings.
Eg: Répondre = to answer
Je répondrai
Tu répondras
Il/Elle/On répondra
Nous répondrons
Vous répondrez
Ils/Elles répondront
5. However, there are some irregular verbs in the
future tense. Here are some examples of
infinitives and their future stems:
For these infinitives, the endings remain the
same.
Aller
Avoir
Devoir
Être
Faire
Falloir
Pouvoir
Savoir
Voir
Vouloir
Ir
Aur
Devr
Ser
Fer
Faudr
Pourr
Saur
Verr
Voudr
6. Some verbs do have some small spelling
changes.
• For verbs ending in ELER, double the L.
Il appellera, Vous appellerez
• For verbs ending in E+consonant+ER, change
the first E to È.
Tu achèteras, Ils achèteront
• For verbs ending in AYER, OYER or UYER,
change the Y to I
Je paierai, Il nettoiera, Vous essuieront
7. Other ways of forming the future
tense
• Use ALLER+infinitive to talk about something
that is sure to happen in the near future
Il va visiter son grand-père ce weekend.
• Use PENSER+infinitive to talk about future
plans which are not certain
Je pense aller a l’université cette septembre.
