The Future Tense Flashcards
How to conjugate future tense?
In French, the future (le futur) is a simple (one-word) form. The stem of the future tense is the entire verb infinitive. The final -e of the infinitive of -re verbs is dropped before endings are added, however. Add the following future endings to the infinitive: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
If you think of the present tense forms of avoir (j’ai, tu as, il/elle a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont), the endings of the future tense are easy to learn, since they are nearly the same. Interrogatives, negatives, and object pronouns are treated as they are in the other simple conjugations, the present tense and the imparfait.
Future
Parler
Je parlerai Tu parleras Il parlera Nous Parlerons Vous Parlerez Ils parleront
Future
Finir
Je finirai Tu finiras Il finira Nous finirons Vous finirez Ils finiront
Future
Vendre
Je vendrai Tu vendras Il vendra Nous vendrons Vous vendrez Ils vendront
Verbs with spelling changes in future tense
With one exception, verbs with spelling changes (Chapter 5) in the present tense have the same spelling change in the stem of all persons of the future. The exception: the stem of verbs like espérer and préférer is regular in the future (no spelling change).
- On te rappellera ce soir, d’accord? (We will call you again this evening, OK?)
- Achèteront-ils leurs skis samedi? (Will they buy their skis Saturday?)
- J’essaierai ce beau manteau. (J’essaierai ce beau manteau)
- Je pense que tu préféreras ce restaurant-là. (I think you will prefer that restaurant)
Future verbs with irregular stems
Aller
Ir-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Avoir
Aur-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Courir
Courr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Devoir
Devr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Envoyer
Enverr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Être
Ser
Future verbs with irregular stems
Faire
Fer-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Falloir
Il faudra
Il pleuvra (it will rain) and il faudra (it will be necessary to) are used only in the singular impersonal form (il).
Future verbs with irregular stems
Mourir
Mourr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Pleuvoir
Il pleuvra
Il pleuvra (it will rain) and il faudra (it will be necessary to) are used only in the singular impersonal form (il).
Future verbs with irregular stems
Pouvoir
Pourr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Savoir
Saur-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Venir
Viendr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Voir
Verr-
Future verbs with irregular stems
Vouloir
Voudr-
Uses of the Future Tense
The future tense in French is used very nearly like the English future (will, shall). It can replace the “near” future construction aller infinitive (to be going to) and is also seen in more formal contexts. It may express a more distant future than aller infinitive.
- In if-clause sentences in French, the verb after si (if) is always in the present tense when the main clause verb is in the future. Si elides to s’ only before il/ils (s’il vient), and not before elle/elles (si elle).
- In sentences with quand (when), lorsque (when), dès que (as soon as), and aussitôt que (as soon as), the future tense is used in both clauses if both actions are in the future.
Si tu le veux, je prendrai le métro
If you want, I will take the metro.
Si elle est libre, nous irons à Paris.
If she is free, we will go to Paris.
S’ils peuvent, ils nous aideront.
If they can, they will help us.
Je partirai dès que j’aurai mon diplôme.
I will leave as soon as I get my diploma.
Quand Marthe arrivera, nous déjeunerons.
When Marthe gets here, we will have lunch.
