French Future Tense: Futur Simple vs Futur Proche (Full Guide)

Two Futures: Which One Do You Use?

French expresses future actions in two distinct ways: the futur proche (near future) and the futur simple (simple future). Both translate roughly to "will" or "going to" in English, but the choice between them carries a real difference in meaning and register. Using the wrong one in a TCF Canada or DELF writing task is a B1-level error that costs points.

The Futur Proche (Near Future)

How to Form It

Aller (conjugated in present tense) + infinitive. That's it.

• Je vais partir ce soir. (I am going to leave tonight.)
• Elle va finir son projet demain. (She is going to finish her project tomorrow.)
• Nous allons voyager en France. (We are going to travel to France.)

When to Use Futur Proche

• For imminent or planned actions — things happening very soon or already decided.
• In spoken and informal French — it is far more common than futur simple in everyday conversation.
• When the future event feels certain or concrete: Attention, tu vas tomber ! (Watch out, you're going to fall!)

The Futur Simple

How to Form It

Take the infinitive (drop the final e for -re verbs) and add: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.

• parler → je parlerai, tu parleras, il parlera…
• finir → je finirai, tu finiras…
• vendre → je vendrai (drop the e)

Key Irregular Stems

• être → je serai
• avoir → j'aurai
• aller → j'irai
• faire → je ferai
• pouvoir → je pourrai
• vouloir → je voudrai
• venir → je viendrai
• savoir → je saurai

When to Use Futur Simple

• In formal writing and essays — the futur simple is the expected register for DELF B2 and TCF/TEF writing tasks.
• For distant or uncertain future events: Dans dix ans, les voitures électriques domineront le marché.
• After quand, lorsque, dès que, aussitôt que — French requires futur simple where English uses present tense: Quand il arrivera, nous mangerons. (When he arrives, we will eat.)

The Quand Rule: The Most Common Mistake at B1

In English, "when he arrives" uses the present tense even though it refers to the future. In French, this is not allowed — after quand, lorsque, dès que, and aussitôt que, you must use the futur simple. This is one of the most frequently penalised errors in TCF Canada and DELF writing.

• Incorrect: Quand il arrive, nous mangerons.
• Correct: Quand il arrivera, nous mangerons.