If everything is clear with the times in Russian, then with European languages, as a rule, the situation is more complicated. French is no exception: it has several constructions for expressing the future tense.
All tenses of French
There are only three basic tenses in French: present, past and future. But there are several dozen types of temporary forms used for different situations, which can shock those who are just starting to learn the language.
But don't panic, because even for beginners, French becomes clearer if you understand a little. Firstly, some constructions are used only in the obsolete bookish language and are found in classical literature. Secondly, in colloquial speech, the French do not like complexity and strive for simplification, so it is enough for beginners to know only the basic ways of composing the future tense in French.
A simple future: le Futur simple
Represents the simple future tense in the usual sense, i.e. used toexpression of an action that will take place after the moment of speaking. Moreover, this can happen at a foreseeable point in time, for example, next summer or in the indefinite future.
Verbs of groups I and II form a simple future with the help of the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont, which are added to the infinitive:
| I group | II group | |
| infinitive | parler | finir |
| je | parlerai | finirai |
| tu | parleras | finiras |
| il, elle | parlera | finira |
| nous | parlerons | finirons |
| vouz | parlerez | finirez |
| ils, elles | parleront | finiront |
For example:
- Je serai médecin pour aider les gens. - I will become a doctor to help people.
- L'année prochaine j'irai etudier aux Etats-Unis. - Next year I will study in the USA.
For most verbs of group III, the future tense form is formed similarly to verbs of groups I and II, but at the same time, the last letter e disappears for verbs ending in -re.
| je | attendrai |
| tu | attendras |
| il, elle | attendra |
| nous | attendrons |
| vouz | attendrez |
| ils, elles | attendront |
Worth itnote that for many verbs of the third group, when forming the form of the future tense, the stem changes, then all the same endings of the future tense are attached to it. These exceptions just need to be remembered. Below are some of them:
| venir | être | avoir | aller | |
| je | viendrai | serai | aurai | irai |
| tu | viendras | seras | auras | iras |
| il, elle | viendra | sera | aura | ira |
| nous | viendrons | serons | aurons | irons |
| vous | viendrez | serez | aurez | irez |
| ils, elles | viendront | seront | auront | iront |
In addition to its main purpose, Futur simple can also be used to express an order, advice or a polite request.
- Je vous demanderai me montrer les alentours. - I would like you to show me around.
- M'appellerai plus tôt possible. - Call me ASAP.
The Futur simple form of the verbs etre or avoir is sometimes used to express uncertainty, assumptions. For example:
- Quel âge a-t-elle? - Elle aura diz ans. How old is she? – She must be ten.
- Où est-il? – Il sera a l'ecole. Where is he? - He's probably inschool.
It is important to note that the future tense is not used in French after si!
Near future: le Futur proche
The French love to express the future through the present. Recently, this technique has become more and more popular. This is not surprising: you don’t need to remember the endings and think about changing the stem, just put the verb aller in the right form of the present tense and add the infinitive to it:
| je | vais partir |
| tu | vas partir |
| il, elle | va partir |
| nous | allons partir |
| vouz | allez partir |
| ils, elles | vont partir |
In Russian, such sentences are translated as "going to do something", "do it right now":
- Je vais prendre un café. - I'm going to have coffee.
- Nous allons nous marier. - We are going to get married.
English learners can draw an analogy with the construction to be going to.
Future in the past: Futur dans le Passe
Expresses a future action in relation to the past. It is used to agree on tenses when the verb of the main part of the sentence is in the past tense or the narration is in the past. Widely used in indirect speech.
The form of Futur dans le passe verbs differs from the Futur simple form in that the endingsare borrowed from the Imperfait form: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
The stem of Group III verbs changes similarly to the stems of Futur simple.
| je | parlerais | viendrais |
| tu | parlerais | viendrais |
| il, elle | parlerait | viendrait |
| nous | parlerions | viendrions |
| vouz | parleriez | viendriez |
| ils, elles | parleriont | viendrient |
Prefuture tense: Futur antérieur
A compound construction, the so-called pre-future tense, expresses an action that will take place in the future before the onset of another future, that is, it will end before another action is completed.
Drawing a parallel with English, we can say that this model of the future tense in French resembles the Future Perfect.
In order to put the verb in the Futur antérieur form, you need to use the verb avoir or être in the simple future tense, and form the past participle from the action verb. Verbs of movement or state should be used with être, the rest with avoir. In the first case, the main verb agrees with the subject in gender and number. Futur antérieur is one of the most complex forms of the future tense in French. Examples are given below:
| parler | monter | |
| j'/je | auraiparle | serai monté(e) |
| tu | auras parlé | seras monté(e) |
| il, elle | aura parlé | sera monté(e) |
| nous | aurons parlé | serons monté(e) |
| vouz | aurez parlé | serez monté(e) |
| ils, elles | auront parlé | seront monté(e) |
We hope our little guide will help you in mastering the language.
