Grammar / A2 : Elementary / The simple future
The simple future
Regular and irregular formation, uses.
The formal future : and the one you need for si and quand
The futur proche handles most everyday future conversation in French. The futur simple is the formal future; the one found in written French, weather forecasts, promises, official announcements, and newspaper headlines. But there is one situation where the futur simple is not optional: it is required after si (in type 1 conditional sentences) and after time conjunctions like quand, dès que, lorsque when referring to the future. This is one of the most tested points at A2/B1 level.
1. Formation : regular verbs
The futur simple is formed by taking the infinitive as the stem and adding a set of endings. The endings are the same for all verbs (regular or irregular) and come from the present tense of avoir: ai, as, a, avons, avez, ont.
Stem (= infinitive) + endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
| Subject | Ending | parler (stem: parler-) | finir (stem: finir-) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | -ai | je parlerai | je finirai |
| tu | -as | tu parleras | tu finiras |
| il / elle / on | -a | il parlera | il finira |
| nous | -ons | nous parlerons | nous finirons |
| vous | -ez | vous parlerez | vous finirez |
| ils / elles | -ont | ils parleront | ils finiront |
-RE verbs: drop the final -e before adding endings
Verbs ending in -re lose the final -e of their infinitive before the endings are added.
| Infinitive | Stem | je | il | ils |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vendre | vendr- | je vendrai | il vendra | ils vendront |
| attendre | attendr- | j'attendrai | il attendra | ils attendront |
| prendre | prendr- | je prendrai | il prendra | ils prendront |
| répondre | répondr- | je répondrai | il répondra | ils répondront |
💡 The endings are always the same. Whether the stem is regular or irregular, the endings never change: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. Memorise the endings once and they work for every verb in the language.
2. Irregular stems
A significant group of common verbs have irregular stems in the futur simple. The stem does not come from the infinitive. These must be learnt individually, but once you know the stem, the endings are as regular as for any other verb.
| Verb | Irregular stem | je | il / elle | ils / elles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aller | ir- | j'irai | il ira | ils iront |
| avoir | aur- | j'aurai | il aura | ils auront |
| être | ser- | je serai | il sera | ils seront |
| faire | fer- | je ferai | il fera | ils feront |
| venir | viendr- | je viendrai | il viendra | ils viendront |
| voir | verr- | je verrai | il verra | ils verront |
| vouloir | voudr- | je voudrai | il voudra | ils voudront |
| pouvoir | pourr- | je pourrai | il pourra | ils pourront |
| savoir | saur- | je saurai | il saura | ils sauront |
| devoir | devr- | je devrai | il devra | ils devront |
| recevoir | recevr- | je recevrai | il recevra | ils recevront |
| envoyer | enverr- | j'enverrai | il enverra | ils enverront |
| tenir | tiendr- | je tiendrai | il tiendra | ils tiendront |
| courir | courr- | je courrai | il courra | ils courront |
| mourir | mourr- | je mourrai | il mourra | ils mourront |
| falloir (impersonal) | faudr- | - | il faudra | - |
| pleuvoir (impersonal) | pleuvr- | - | il pleuvra | - |
💡 Pattern recognition: verbs with double -r in the stem (courr-, mourr-, verr-, pourr-) maintain the double -r throughout all forms. Verbs ending in -enir and -enir (viendr-, tiendr-) follow the same pattern as venir and tenir. Their compounds (devenir, revenir, obtenir) follow the same stems.
3. Uses of the futur simple
Predictions and distant future
For events that feel further off or more hypothetical, the futur simple is often preferred over the futur proche.
Dans dix ans, les voitures seront toutes électriques. (In ten years, all cars will be electric.)
Un jour, tu comprendras. (One day, you will understand.)
La population mondiale atteindra dix milliards. (The world population will reach ten billion.)
Promises and commitments
The futur simple carries a stronger sense of commitment than the futur proche. Promises in French are typically made with the futur simple.
Je te rappellerai ce soir, promis. (I will call you back tonight, I promise.)
Nous ferons tout notre possible. (We will do everything we can.)
Je n'oublierai jamais ce moment. (I will never forget this moment.)
Official, formal and written language
Il fera beau sur toute la France demain. (Weather will be fine across France tomorrow.) (weather forecast)
La réunion se tiendra à quatorze heures. (The meeting will take place at 2 pm.) (announcement)
Le magasin sera fermé les 24 et 25 décembre. (The shop will be closed on the 24th and 25th of December.) (notice)
4. Si + présent → futur simple
One of the most important uses of the futur simple is in conditional sentences of the first type: if something happens (present tense), then something will happen (futur simple). The si clause is always in the present tense; never in the future.
Si + present tense → futur simple
(Never: si + futur simple)
| Si clause (present) | Main clause (futur simple) |
|---|---|
| Si tu travailles bien, | tu réussiras. (If you work hard, you will succeed.) |
| S'il pleut, | nous resterons à la maison. (If it rains, we will stay home.) |
| Si vous avez le temps, | passez nous voir. (If you have time, come and see us.) (imperative also possible) |
| Si elle part tôt, | elle arrivera à l'heure. (If she leaves early, she will arrive on time.) |
⚠ In French, the si clause is ALWAYS in the present tense. Never use the futur simple after si.
❌ Si tu travailleras bien, tu réussiras.
✓ Si tu travailles bien, tu réussiras.
The two clauses can appear in either order: the si clause can come first or second.
Tu réussiras si tu travailles bien. (same meaning, si clause second)
5. Quand + futur simple : the rule English speakers miss
In English, after "when" referring to the future, the present tense is used: "When you arrive, call me." In French, this is different. After time conjunctions that refer to a future event, the verb must be in the futur simple; not the present.
After these conjunctions (when referring to future), use futur simple:
quand (when) · lorsque (when; slightly more formal) · dès que (as soon as) · aussitôt que (as soon as) · tant que (as long as)
| ❌ English logic (incorrect in French) | ✓ Correct French |
|---|---|
| Quand tu arrives, appelle-moi. | Quand tu arriveras, appelle-moi. (When you arrive, call me.) |
| Dès qu'il est prêt, on part. | Dès qu'il sera prêt, on partira. (As soon as he is ready, we will leave.) |
| Lorsque j'ai le temps, je te réponds. | Lorsque j'aurai le temps, je te répondrai. (When I have time, I will answer you.) |
| Quand il fait beau, on sort. | Quand il fera beau, on sortira. (When the weather is nice, we will go out.) (referring to a future occasion) |
⚠ This rule applies when the time conjunction refers to a future event. If it refers to a habitual or general truth in the present, the present tense is correct: Quand il fait beau, je vais me promener. (When the weather is nice, I go for a walk; general habit). The test: is this something that will happen once in the future, or something that happens generally?
6. Futur simple vs futur proche : summary
| Futur proche | Futur simple | |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling | Near, planned, certain from now | Any future (can be near or distant) |
| Register | Informal, everyday conversation | More formal, written language |
| After si | Not used after si | Required in the main clause: si tu travailles, tu réussiras |
| After quand/dès que | Not used | Required: quand tu arriveras |
| Promises | Softer: je vais t'appeler | Stronger commitment: je t'appellerai |
7. Key points
✓ Regular stem: the infinitive (-RE verbs drop the final -e)
✓ Endings (always the same): -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
✓ Key irregular stems: ir- (aller), ser- (être), aur- (avoir), fer- (faire), viendr- (venir), verr- (voir), pourr- (pouvoir), voudr- (vouloir), saur- (savoir)
✓ Used for: predictions, promises, formal language, weather forecasts
✓ Si + present → futur simple in the main clause (never si + futur simple)
✓ After quand / dès que / lorsque referring to the future: futur simple required (NOT the present tense)
✓ Futur simple signals more formality or distance than futur proche