Le futur simple
The futur simple expresses future actions and events. Unlike English, French uses a single word (no auxiliary like "will") formed by adding endings directly to the infinitive.
Regular verbs
The rule
For regular verbs, keep the full infinitive as the stem. For -re verbs, drop the final -e first (vendre → vendr-). Then add the future endings.
-er verbs
parler → je parlerai
-ir verbs
finir → je finirai
-re verbs
vendre → je vendrai
Future endings · parler (to speak)
| Pronoun | Ending | Full form |
|---|---|---|
| je | -ai | je parlerai |
| tu | -as | tu parleras |
| il / elle / on | -a | il parlera |
| nous | -ons | nous parlerons |
| vous | -ez | vous parlerez |
| ils / elles | -ont | ils parleront |
Irregular stems
Some common verbs do not use the infinitive as their future stem. The endings are identical: only the stem changes. Memorise these stems; the rest follows the same pattern.
| Infinitive | English | Future stem |
|---|---|---|
| être | to be | ser- |
| avoir | to have | aur- |
| aller | to go | ir- |
| faire | to do / make | fer- |
| venir | to come | viendr- |
| voir | to see | verr- |
| savoir | to know | saur- |
| vouloir | to want | voudr- |
| pouvoir | to be able | pourr- |
| devoir | to have to | devr- |
| tenir | to hold | tiendr- |
| courir | to run | courr- |
| envoyer | to send | enverr- |
| recevoir | to receive | recevr- |
Examples with irregular verbs
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| je serai | I will be | |
| tu auras | you will have | |
| il ira | he will go | |
| nous ferons | we will do | |
| vous viendrez | you will come | |
| elles verront | they will see |
When to use le futur simple
Predictions
Demain, il fera beau.
Tomorrow, the weather will be nice.
Promises
Je t'appellerai ce soir.
I will call you this evening.
Future plans (more formal than aller + infinitive)
Nous partirons en vacances en juillet.
We will go on holiday in July.
After quand / lorsque in the future
Quand tu arriveras, appelle-moi.
When you arrive, call me. (English uses present; French uses future.)