The Future Tense

How to make the Future Tense in French

Keep the infinitive of the verb (er,ir,r) + add future ending

je + ai

tu + as

il + a

nous + ons

vous + ez

ils + ont

Examples

i) I will work in an office

f/ to work = traviller

- je travaillerai dans un bureau

ii) We will finish our homework tomorrow

f/ to finish = finir

- nous finirons nos devoirs demain

iii) They will sell their house

f/ to sell = vendr (remove the e)

- ils vendront leur maison

There should always be an “R” before the future ending!

Irregulars

to have - aur

to be - ser

to go - ir

to do - fer

to be able to - pourr

to have to - devr

to want - voude

to see - verr

to know - saur

to receive - recevr

to run - courr

to come - viend

Special use of the future tense with “when”.

In English, the present tense is used after the conjunction “when” although it refers to an action which will happen in the future perfect is used in the first clause of a sentence.

e.g. We [will have] our dinner when [you come] home tonight

In French, the future will be used after “quand” as the action will happen (the French makes more sense in such context").

e.g. nous aurons mange, notre dîne quand ti retreras à la maison ce soir