Le futur simple
Le futur simple is an essential future tense in French used to describe actions that will happen, predictions, promises, and future plans. Unlike the futur proche, which expresses something that is going to happen soon, the futur simple is often used for more distant or formal future events. It is formed by taking the infinitive of the verb (for regular verbs) and adding the future endings; irregular verbs use a modified stem. In this lesson, we will explore when to use the futur simple, how to form it correctly with regular and irregular verbs, and how to distinguish it clearly from other future forms.
Le futur simple Overview & Exercises :
1. Qu’est-ce que c’est Le futur simple?
2. How to form the future simple
3. How to Remember “r” in the Future Tense
4. Simple Future and Near Future Differences
5. Regular and Irregular Verbs in Future Tense
6. Talking About the Future in French: Useful Time Expressions
7. Quizzes
8. Learn about Near Future (futur proche)
1. Qu’est-ce que c’est Le futur simple?
The future simple (le futur simple), is used to discuss what will happen in the future. The future simple is used to describe:
1. The action is in the future but not necessarily soon
2. More neutral, formal, or detached
3. Used for predictions, promises, facts, or distant plans
Example:
Demain, je mangerai une pizza. (Tomorrow, I will eat a pizza.)
→ Fact
J’étudierai le droit un jour. (I will study law one day.)
→ Long-term plan, not immediate.
Il fera froid demain. ( It will be cold tomorrow.)
→ Prediction.
Nous partirons en France l’année prochaine. ( We will go to France next year.)
→ Future event, not connected to “right now”.
Mental idea: “This will happen.”
2. How to form the future simple
The formula is: Infinitive + future endings
Future endings (same for all verbs):
| Subject | Ending |
|---|---|
| 1. je | -ai |
| 2. tu | -as |
| 3. il/elle/on | -a |
| 4. nous | -ons |
| 5. vous | -ez |
| 6. ils/elles | -ont |
Here some examples:
| Parler | Réussir | Vendre |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Je parlerai | 1. je réussirai | 1. je vendrai |
| 2. Tu parleras | 2. tu réussiras | 2. tu vendras |
| 3. il parlera | 3. il réussira | 3. il vendra |
| 4. Nous parlerons | 4. nous réussirons | 4. nous vendrons |
| 5. Vous parlerez | 5. vous réussirez | 5. vous vendrez |
| 6. Ils parleront | 6. ils réussiront | 6. ils vendront |
3. How to remember whether a verb in the future tense has one “r” or double “rr”:
A useful way to remember whether a verb in the future tense has one “r” or double “rr” is by looking at the stem of the verb in the infinitive and its irregular forms. Here are some tips:
1. Verbs that keep a single “r” in the future
These verbs already end in -re or -ir, and they don’t need an extra “r”:
- Faire → ferai
- Pouvoir → pourrai
- Voir → verrai (exception: it looks like it should keep one “r”, but it doubles)
- Savoir → saurai
- Devoir → devrai
– Trick: If the root already sounds strong with “r” (e.g., “faire” → “fer”), it stays with one “r.”
2. Verbs that double the “r” in the future
These verbs typically end in -rir, -dre, or -oir and change to include a double “r”:
- Envoyer → enverrai
- Voir → verrai
- Mourir → mourrai
- Courir → courrai
– Trick: If the verb undergoes a significant change in its root (e.g., “envoyer” → “enverr-“), it often doubles the “r.”
Mnemonic to remember “rr” verbs
Think of the phrase:
“Very Excited Cows Move Rapidly” → VECMR
- Voir → verrai
- Envoyer → enverrai
- Courir → courrai
- Mourir → mourrai
- Recevoir → recevrai
Final Tip
If you’re unsure, think of common future forms like “je ferai” and “j’enverrai” to reinforce the pattern. Most verbs don’t double the “r,” except those that sound like they need it for pronunciation reasons.
4. Main differences between simple future (futur simple) and near future (futur proche)
| Aspect | Futur proche | Futur simple |
|---|---|---|
| Time feeling | Very near / soon | Near or far |
| Intention | Strong, already decided | More neutral |
| Link to present | Strong | Weaker |
| Style | Spoken, everyday | Neutral / formal |
Key idea
Futur proche = something you are about to do
Futur simple = something that will happen
5. Regular and Irregular Verbs in the Future Tense
In French, the future tense includes both regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, making them easier to conjugate once you learn the rules. Irregular verbs, however, have unique stems that must be memorized. Understanding the difference between regular and irregular verbs will help you form the future tense correctly and speak more confidently about future plans and actions.
French grammar about future tense. Click on the button of your interest:
| Regular verbsFuture tense | Irregular verbsFuture tense |
6. Talking About the Future in French: Useful Time Expressions
When speaking about the future in French, certain time expressions help indicate that an action will happen later. Words and phrases such as demain (tomorrow), demain matin (tomorrow morning), après-demain (the day after tomorrow), la semaine prochaine (next week), le mois prochain (next month), or l’année prochaine (next year) clearly show when something will occur. These expressions are often used with the future tense, but they can also be used with the present tense to talk about upcoming plans and events. Learning them will help you express future ideas more naturally in French.
Postériotité
In future tense it helps if you add these words to express future:
Grammar: French Words to Express the Future
| French | English |
|---|---|
| 1. Demain | 1. Tomorrow |
| 2. Demain matin | 2. Tomorrow morning |
| 3. Demain soir | 3. Tomorrow evening |
| 4. Après-demain | 4. The day after tomorrow |
| 5. Dans deux jours | 5. In two days |
| 6. La semaine prochaine | 6. Next week |
| 7. Le mois prochain | 7. Next month |
| 8. L’année prochaine | 8. Next year |
7. QUIZZES : Le futur simple: Regular and Irregular Verbs
8. Learn about Near Future (futur proche) here:
Grammar Level 3 – List
1. Reflexive verbs:
a) Reflexive verbs Conjugation in Past Tense : Explication
b) Reflexive verbs in past tense: Les verbse pronominaux au passé composé
c) A daily routine: Une routine quotidienne
2. Near future tense:
a) Definition: Le Futur Proche
b) Le Futur Proche practice 1:11 phrases
3. Simple Future tense:
a) Definition Regular verbs: Le Futur Simple
b) Regular verbs: Les verbes réguliers au futur (Test 1)
c) Irregular verbs: Les verbes irréguliers au futur simple (Test 1)
d) Le future simple practice 1: 11 phrases
e) Le future simple practice 2: 25 verbes
f) Sentences ER verbs future simple: Phrases ER verbes futur simple
g) Sentences IR verbs future simple: Phrases IR verbes futur simple
h) Sentences RE verbs future simple: Phrases RE verbes futur simple
4. Another Verbs:
a) Another 15 regular verbs: 15 autres verbes réguliers
b) Another 15 irregular verbs: 15 autres verbes irréguliers
5. Compound Past or The preterit – Le passé composé:
a) Past Participle: Les participes passés (Test)
b) 20 Irregular French past participles: 20 Participes passés irréguliers
6. Imperfect tense – l’imparfait:
a) Imparfait practice 2: À l’école élémentaire
b) Imparfait practice 3: Barbe bleu
c) Imparfait et Passé composé practice 4: Présent-Imparfait-Passé composé Practice
7. More Prepositions: Prépositions
a) Prepositions practice 1: Pratique des prépositions 1
b) Prepositions practice 2: Pratique des prépositions 2
c) Since, During, For, There is: Depuis, Pendant, Pour, Il y a
8. French expressions with the verb to be (être):
a) Expressions françaises avec être
b) To be in the process of – Être en train de
c) Expressions françaises avec être et avoir
9. Québec French and Metropolitan French: Français québécois et français métropolitain
10. 10 Essential French Verbs You Need To Know: 10 verbes français essentiels à connaître
11. The idea of time : L’idée du temps
a) Anteriority: Anteriorité
b) Actuality: Actualité
c) Posteriority: Posteriorité
12. Past Tense Indicators :
a) Indicators for Passé composé
b) Indicators for imparfait
13. “I have been” in French: “J’ai été” en français.
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