Language/French/Grammar/Futur-Proche

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French → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Futur Proche

Introduction

In this lesson, we will learn how to express future actions using the French "futur proche" (near future tense). The "futur proche" is used to talk about events or actions that will happen in the near future. It is formed by combining the verb "aller" (to go) in the present tense with the infinitive form of the main verb. This tense is commonly used in everyday conversations and is essential for basic communication in French. So let's dive in and discover how to express the future in French!

Formation of the Futur Proche

The formation of the "futur proche" is quite simple. You only need two elements: the present tense of the verb "aller" (to go) and the infinitive form of the main verb. Here is how it works:

• Subject pronoun + conjugated form of "aller" + infinitive verb

Let's take a look at some examples to understand how to form the "futur proche":

French	Pronunciation	English
Je vais manger	zhuh veh mahn-zhay	I am going to eat
Tu vas étudier	too vah ay-tu-dyay	You are going to study
Il/Elle/On va partir	eel/el/ohn vah par-teer	He/She/One is going to leave
Nous allons regarder	noo-zah-lohn ruh-gar-day	We are going to watch
Vous allez venir	voo zah-lay vuh-neer	You are going to come
Ils/Elles vont parler	eel/el vont par-lay	They are going to speak

As you can see, "aller" is conjugated according to the subject pronoun, and the infinitive verb remains unchanged. This makes the "futur proche" relatively easy to form. Now let's explore how to use it in different contexts.

Usage of the Futur Proche

The "futur proche" is used to express actions that will happen in the near future. It is often used when talking about plans, intentions, or predictions. Here are some common situations in which the "futur proche" is used:

1. Plans and Intentions

When talking about future plans and intentions, the "futur proche" is frequently used. It allows you to express what you are going to do or what you intend to do. For example:

• Je vais aller au cinéma ce soir. (I am going to go to the cinema tonight.)
• Nous allons visiter Paris pendant les vacances. (We are going to visit Paris during the holidays.)

In these examples, the "futur proche" is used to talk about specific plans or intentions for the future.

2. Predictions

The "futur proche" can also be used to make predictions or assumptions about the future. While it may not be as common as other future tenses, it can still be used in this context. For example:

• Il va pleuvoir demain. (It is going to rain tomorrow.)
• Ils vont gagner le match. (They are going to win the game.)

In these examples, the "futur proche" is used to predict or assume future events.

3. Immediate Future

Another common use of the "futur proche" is to talk about actions that will happen in the immediate future, or actions that are about to happen. For example:

• Attends, je vais t'aider. (Wait, I am going to help you.)
• J'arrive, je vais ouvrir la porte. (I'm coming, I'm going to open the door.)

In these examples, the "futur proche" is used to indicate actions that will happen very soon.

Exceptions and Irregular Verbs

While the formation of the "futur proche" is generally straightforward, there are a few exceptions and irregular verbs that you should be aware of. Here are some examples:

• Aller (to go) - Je vais, tu vas, il/elle/on va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont
• Avoir (to have) - J'ai, tu as, il/elle/on a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont
• Être (to be) - Je suis, tu es, il/elle/on est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont
• Faire (to do/make) - Je fais, tu fais, il/elle/on fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font
• Pouvoir (can) - Je peux, tu peux, il/elle/on peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils/elles peuvent
• Savoir (to know) - Je sais, tu sais, il/elle/on sait, nous savons, vous savez, ils/elles savent
• Venir (to come) - Je viens, tu viens, il/elle/on vient, nous venons, vous venez, ils/elles viennent

These verbs have irregular conjugations in the present tense of "aller" and therefore have irregular forms in the "futur proche" as well. It's important to familiarize yourself with these irregularities and practice using them in context.

Examples and Practice

Now that you understand how to form and use the "futur proche", let's practice with some examples. Try to translate the following sentences into French using the "futur proche":

1. I am going to study French tomorrow. 2. Are you going to travel to France next week? 3. She is going to buy a new car. 4. We are going to have dinner at the restaurant tonight. 5. They are going to watch a movie this weekend.

Take your time and think about the correct formation of the "futur proche" for each sentence. Once you have your answers, you can check them below:

1. Je vais étudier le français demain. 2. Est-ce que tu vas voyager en France la semaine prochaine? 3. Elle va acheter une nouvelle voiture. 4. Nous allons dîner au restaurant ce soir. 5. Ils vont regarder un film ce week-end.

Congratulations! You are now able to express future actions using the "futur proche" in French. Keep practicing and using this tense in different contexts to reinforce your understanding.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned how to express future actions using the French "futur proche". We have seen how to form this tense by combining the present tense of "aller" with the infinitive form of the main verb. We have also explored different contexts in which the "futur proche" is commonly used, such as plans, intentions, predictions, and immediate future actions. Additionally, we have discussed exceptions and irregular verbs in the formation of the "futur proche". By practicing and using this tense in various situations, you will become more confident in expressing future actions in French. Keep up the good work!

Table of Contents - French Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• The French Alphabet
• French Vowels and Consonants
• French Accent Marks
• Introductions and Greetings

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Gender and Number of Nouns
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Partitive Articles

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Common Irregular Verbs
• Passé Composé
• Futur Proche

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Agreement of Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Formation and Use of Adverbs

  ---

Negation and Interrogation

• Negation
• Interrogation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
• Time and Dates

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Romantic Relationships

  ---

Food and Drink

• Food and Eating Habits
• Beverages and Drinking Habits

  ---

Hobbies and Interests

• Sports and Fitness Activities
• Music and Entertainment

  ---

Geography and Travel

• Regions and Cities in France
• Transportation and Accommodation

  ---

French Culture and Arts

• French Cuisine and Gastronomy
• French Cinema and Literature

  ---

French History and Society

• Major Events in French History
• French Society and Lifestyle

Sources

• Grammar for dummies Futur Proche - Alpine French School
• Le futur proche: the near future in French

Other Lessons

• Nouns with irregular plurals
• Money
• Reflexive use of me, te, se, nous, vous
• Demonstrative determiners
• Agreement of the past participle with the subject of être
• Order of multiple pronouns with imperatives
• Use of the neutral pronoun le
• Pronominal verbs, the auxiliary “être” and the agreement of the past participle
• Gender of the noun indicated by its final letter
• Verbs whose stems end in c— or g—

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