The future simple expresses what will happen. It is formed differently from the near future (aller + infinitive) — it uses a one-word tense.
Je parlerai français. — I will speak French. Elle finira ses devoirs. — She will finish her homework. Nous partirons demain. — We will leave tomorrow. Use it for decisions, predictions, and formal promises.
Formation — Regular Verbs
For -er and -ir verbs: add endings to the infinitive. For -re verbs: drop the -e first.
Subject
Ending
parler
finir
vendre
je
-ai
parlerai
finirai
vendrai
tu
-as
parleras
finiras
vendras
il/elle
-a
parlera
finira
vendra
nous
-ons
parlerons
finirons
vendrons
vous
-ez
parlerez
finirez
vendrez
ils
-ont
parleront
finiront
vendront
Irregular Future Stems
Many common verbs have irregular stems but use the same endings.
être → ser- : je serai (I will be) avoir → aur- : j'aurai (I will have) aller → ir- : j'irai (I will go) faire → fer- : je ferai (I will do/make) pouvoir → pourr- : je pourrai (I will be able) venir → viendr- : je viendrai (I will come) voir → verr- : je verrai (I will see)
Future Simple vs. Futur Proche
Both refer to the future, but they feel different.
Futur proche (aller + inf.) — near future, planned, certain: Je vais partir demain. — I'm going to leave tomorrow. (planned)
Future simple — more open, predictions, formal promises: Je partirai demain. — I will leave tomorrow. At A2 level, both are often interchangeable in speech.
Quick Summary
Future simple at a glance.
• Regular: infinitive + -ai/-as/-a/-ons/-ez/-ont. • -re verbs: drop -e before adding endings. • Key irregulars: ser- / aur- / ir- / fer- / pourr- / viendr- / verr-. • With si clause: present + future (not future + future): Si tu travailles, tu réussiras. (If you work, you'll succeed.)
Common Mistakes
If you work, you will succeed
→
Si tu travailles, tu réussiras
si + present, main clause + future (not si + future).