Le Futur Simple in French Grammar
The futur simple corresponds to the will-future tense in English. We mostly use this tense to talk about future plans or intentions, as well as to make predictions about what may occur in the future. We conjugate the future tense by adding the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez and -ont to the infinitive of the verb.
When to use the futur simple in French
to talk about future intentions
to make suppositions or predictions about the future
in conditional sentences (if sentences)
How to conjugate the futur simple in French
FORMULA
-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
Exceptions
Exceptions
- For -RE verbs, drop the final -e: vendre → vendr-
- For -yer verbs, change y → i: employer → emploier-
Irregular Future Stems
How to form the negative with the futur simple
Examples in Context
Je partirai en vacances l'été prochain.
I will leave on vacation next summer.
Tu seras médecin un jour.
You will be a doctor one day.
Elle finira ses études dans deux ans.
She will finish her studies in two years.
Nous aurons une réunion demain matin.
We will have a meeting tomorrow morning.
Ils viendront nous voir le mois prochain.
They will come to see us next month.
Quand tu arriveras, je serai déjà parti.
When you arrive, I will already have left.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Si je serai libre, je viendrai.
Si je suis libre, je viendrai.
SI never takes futur simple. After si, use présent for type 1 conditionals: Si je suis libre, je viendrai. The futur goes in the result clause only.
Quand je serai arrivé, je te téléphonerai.
Quand je serai arrivé, je te téléphonerai. (correct)
In temporal clauses with quand/lorsque/dès que, French uses futur (or futur antérieur) in BOTH clauses for future events. This differs from English: 'When I arrive, I'll call' → 'Quand j'arriverai, je t'appellerai.'
J'acheterai une maison. (with incorrect stem)
J'achèterai une maison.
-ER verbs with é/è in the stem: acheter → j'achèterai, lever → je lèverai. Don't forget the accent change for these stem-changing verbs.
Memory Trick
💃 Avoir's Ending Dance
Futur simple endings are like a remix of avoir: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. For -er and -ir verbs, just add them to the infinitive: parler-ai, finir-as. For -re verbs, drop the -e: vendr-ai. The irregular stems are the rebel group — they keep their own stems but use the same endings: ser-ai, aur-as, fer-a. Same endings, different dance moves!
TEF/TCF Exam Tip
Futur simple is a B1 grammar point in TEF/TCF. At B1, regular formation and common irregular stems (ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, pourr-) are tested. At B2, futur antérieur (j'aurai fini) and si-clause distinctions. The irregular stems are essential: être→ser-, avoir→aur-, aller→ir-, faire→fer-, pouvoir→pourr-, vouloir→voudr-, devoir→devr-, savoir→saur-, venir→viendr-, voir→verr-.
In Conversation
Discussing future career plans:
Qu'est-ce que tu feras après tes études ?
Je serai avocate, j'espère. Je travaillerai dans un grand cabinet.
Tu devras beaucoup étudier. Mais tu pourras réussir.
Je sais. Un jour, je viendrai te remercier pour tout ton soutien.
Le Futur Simple — Free Exercise
FREE EXERCISESTest yourself with 20 interactive questions on tenses/futur-simple. Get instant scoring with detailed explanations for every answer. Track your progress on PrepMyFrench.
Verb Conjugator — Future Tense
FREE TOOLType any French verb into PrepMyFrench's conjugator and see its complete futur simple conjugation, including all irregular stems.