The future

Question 1

How is the future simple formed?

Answer 1

• Take the infinitive form of -er, -ir, and -re verbs (deleting the final e from the re), and add the following endings.

• Je - ai
• Tu - as
• Il/elle – a
• Nous – ons
• Vous - ez
• Ils/elles – ont

Question 2

What is the purpose of the future simple?

Answer 2

1.) It is used to describe events which take place in the future
2.) It can be used as a more polite alternative to the imperative to give orders
Example: Vous fermerez la porte, s’il vous plaît (will you close the door, please)
3.) It is sometimes the equivalent of the English ‘may’ when a speaker is speculating about possible causes or outcomes:
Example: Elle aura encore sa migraine (she may have her headache again)

Question 3

The future tense in clauses

Answer 3

• When subordinate clauses often introduced by quand, lorsque, assistôt que, dès que, sitôt que, dès lors que, tant que or après que are linked to main clauses in which the verb is in a future or conditional the verb in the quand, lorsque etc must also be in the future tense or conditional.
Example: Est-ce que tu me téléphoneras quand il arrivera ?
• Where the event in the quand, lorsque etc. clause would be translated by the perfect or pluperfect tense in English, French has the compound future or compound conditional.
Example: Il arrivera quand je serai parti (He will arrive when I have left)

Question 4

Can y be used with the future tense?

Answer 4

• Translation of ‘there’ – no ‘there’ in the future tense: J’y irai > j’irai

Question 5

What happens to the future tense if the verb is used introduced in the past?

Answer 5

• If the verb introduced is in the past, the future becomes conditional
Exemple : Elle dit toujours qu’elle viendra mais elle ne vient jamais
Elle disait toujours qu’elle viendrAIT mais elle ne venait jamais

Question 6

How is ‘shall’ translated?

Answer 6

• We should choose another solution in French
• Sense of ‘what about’ or ‘should we’ – shall we go? = est-ce tu penses que nous devrions partir/y aller ? ou, à l’oral : on y va ?
• Sense of absolute refusal – I shall not = Il est hors de question que je + subj

Question 7

What happens to the future/conditional after si?

Answer 7

The future nor the conditional never comes straight after ‘si’ instead the present tense is used

Question 8

What is the purpose of the future antérieur?

Answer 8

1. ) Describes a future event from the perspective of its completion
   - J’aurai fini mon travail dès lundi (I will have finished my work from Monday)
2. ) A compound future can describe an event which takes place before another event in the future
   - J’aurai fini mon travail avant de elephone vacances (I will have finished my work before going on holiday)
3. ) The compound future can also be the equivalent of English ‘may have’, when a speaker is speculating about an event which may have occurred before another in the past:
   - Elle aura fini peut-être ses devoirs avant de vous elephoner (she may perhaps have finished her homework before she telephoned you)

Question 9

How is the future antérieur formed?

Answer 9

future of avoir or être + past participle