To talk about plans or events in the near future, French uses aller + infinitive. This is exactly like English going to.
Je vais manger. — I'm going to eat. Elle va partir. — She's going to leave. Nous allons voyager. — We're going to travel.
Conjugation of Aller — Present
You need aller in the present tense first.
Pronoun
Aller
je
vais
tu
vas
il/elle/on
va
nous
allons
vous
allez
ils/elles
vont
Futur Proche — Affirmative
Formula: subject + aller (present) + infinitive.
Tu vas étudier ce soir ? — Are you going to study tonight? Ils vont regarder un film. — They're going to watch a film. Nous allons sortir. — We're going to go out.
Futur Proche — Negative
Place ne…pas around aller, NOT around the infinitive.
Je ne vais pas manger. — I'm not going to eat. Elle ne va pas venir. — She's not going to come. Wrong: ~~Je vais ne pas manger.~~ ✗
Aller as 'To Go'
Aller also means to go. Use it with à/au/aux/en to say where you are going.
Je vais à l'école. — I go to school. Nous allons au cinéma. — We're going to the cinema. Ils vont en France. — They're going to France. Also: Ça va ? — How are you? / Je vais bien. — I'm fine.
Quick Summary
• Futur proche = aller (present) + infinitive. • Negative: ne + aller + pas + infinitive. • Aller also = to go (to a place). • Ça va / Je vais bien = everyday greeting.
je vais · tu vas · il va · nous allons · vous allez · ils vont