Le futur proche: the Near Future in French
What is the futur proche?
The futur proche, also known as the futur composé, is used to talk about actions in the near future. It corresponds to the English structure going to + infinitive, and emphasises that there is already an intention behind the action.
Learn all about the futur proche in French grammar with Lingolia’s quick and easy examples, then test your knowledge in the exercises below.
Contents
Christine va partir dans deux secondes.
Elle va aller au supermarché.
When to use the futur proche in French
We use the futur proche in the following cases:
- to talk about an action that will take place shortly
- Example:
- Christine va partir dans deux secondes.Christine is going to leave in two seconds.
- to talk about a planned action in the near future
- Example:
- Elle va aller au supermarché.She’s going to go to the supermarket.
Futur simple vs. futur proche
The futur simple and the futur proche are used in different contexts, sometimes comparable to the English will vs. going to:
Use the futur simple:
- to express events in the more distant future (signal words: dans une semaine, l’année prochaine…)
- Example:
- J’habiterai encore à Paris dans deux ans.In two years I will still be living in Paris.
- in sentences that contain a subordinate clause introduced by quand, lorsque or dès que.
- Example:
- Nous sortirons quand la pluie s’arrêtera.We’ll go out when the rain stops.
- in writing
Use the futur proche:
- for the immediate future (signal words: dans une minute, dans une heure, ce soir…)
- Example:
- Je vais dîner avec Jacques et Estelle ce soir.I’m going to have dinner with Jacques and Estelle tonight.
- in spoken French
How to conjugate the futur proche in French
To conjugate the futur proche, we use the present tense of the verb aller as an auxiliary verb, followed by the infinitive of the main verb.
| Person | aller | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular (I) | je vais |
aimer finir vendre |
| 2nd person singular (you) | tu vas | |
| 3rd person singular (he/she/it) | il/elle/on va | |
| 1st person plural (we) | nous allons | |
| 2nd person plural (you) | vous allez | |
| 3rd person plural (they) | ils/elles vont |
How to make negative sentences in the futur proche
In French, you make negative sentences with the word ne (or n’ before a vowel) followed by pas. In the futur proche, ne...pas surrounds the auxiliary verb aller, which is in the present tense, followed by the infinitive.
- Example:
- Jonathan ne va pas partir au ski cet hiver.Jonathan isn’t going skiing this winter.
If it’s a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun comes after pas and before the infinitive.
- Example:
- Mes amis ne vont pas se rendre au concert en taxi.My friends are not going to get to the concert by taxi.
Be careful with the word order with adverbs:
- If you want to add an adverb of time or frequency (for example, souvent, encore, jamais, déjà, etc.), they generally come after pas and before the infinitive.
- Examples:
- Ils ne vont pas toujours manger au restaurant.They aren’t always going to eat at restaurants.
- Nous n’allons pas encore sortir de l’hôtel.We’re not going to leave the hotel yet.
- If you add an adverb of opinion, intensity or modality (for example, certainement, vraiment, probablement, quand même, etc.), they generally come before pas to add emphasis or add a specific nuance.
- Examples:
- Il ne va certainement pas accepter cette offre.He’s certainly not going to accept this offer. (= insistence)
- Tu ne vas quand même pas faire ça ?You’re not really going to do that, are you?! (= disbelief)
Go to our page on negation in French for more information and lots of practice exercises.
