Le futur antérieur
The futur antérieur expresses an action that will be completed before another future event. Think of it as the "future perfect": something will have been done by a certain point.
How to form the futur antérieur
Formula
futur simple of avoir / être + past participle
The choice of auxiliary follows the same rules as the passé composé: most verbs use avoir; DR MRS VANDERTRAMP verbs and all reflexives use être. Past participle agreement with être also applies.
With avoir
| French | English | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| j'aurai parlé | I will have spoken | avoir stem: aur- | |
| tu auras fini | you will have finished | avoir stem: aur- | |
| il aura vendu | he will have sold | avoir stem: aur- | |
| nous aurons mangé | we will have eaten | avoir stem: aur- | |
| vous aurez attendu | you will have waited | avoir stem: aur- | |
| ils auront compris | they will have understood | avoir stem: aur- |
With être
| French | English | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| je serai parti(e) | I will have left | être stem: ser- | |
| tu seras arrivé(e) | you will have arrived | être stem: ser- | |
| il sera rentré | he will have returned home | être stem: ser- | |
| elle sera née | she will have been born | être stem: ser- | |
| nous serons allés/allées | we will have gone | être stem: ser- | |
| ils seront revenus | they will have come back | être stem: ser- |
Common trigger conjunctions
These conjunctions often introduce the futur antérieur clause. They signal that one future event must be completed before another begins. In English, the present or present perfect is used after these words: French requires the future or futur antérieur.
| Conjunction | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| quand | when | Quand tu auras fini, on partira. |
| lorsque | when (more formal) | Lorsqu'elle sera arrivée, appelle-moi. |
| dès que | as soon as | Dès qu'il aura mangé, nous sortirons. |
| aussitôt que | as soon as | Aussitôt que vous aurez signé, envoyez le document. |
| une fois que | once | Une fois qu'ils seront partis, on nettoiera. |
| après que | after | Après que j'aurai terminé, je te rejoindrai. |
Understanding the timeline
Imagine two future events on a timeline: Event A must be completed before Event B begins. Use the futur antérieur for Event A and the futur simple for Event B.
Event A (futur antérieur)
Quand j'aurai terminé mes devoirs...
When I have finished my homework...
Event B (futur simple)
...je regarderai la télé.
...I will watch TV.