French Grammar Lesson: Le Futur Proche (The Near Future)
Introduction: My First Week of French Class in Saint-Malo
This week marks the beginning of an exciting chapter, my very first week of French class at CLPS in Saint-Malo. The charming coastal town, with its sea breeze and cobblestone streets, already feels like the perfect place to begin learning a new language.
In our first few lessons, we dove into something surprisingly useful and easy to grasp: le futur proche (the near future tense). I was thrilled because this tense helps you talk about things you're going to do, which means you can start expressing your plans and intentions in French right away!
Let me walk you through what I learned, so you can start using it too.
What Is Le Futur Proche?
Le futur proche is used to talk about things that are going to happen soon. It's the French equivalent of saying “I am going to…” in English.
For example:
Je vais manger. = I’m going to eat.
It’s perfect for expressing:
- Immediate plans
- Predictions
- Intentions
- Events that are likely to happen soon
How Do You Form Le Futur Proche?
It’s super simple! You only need two parts:
- The verb aller (to go), conjugated in the present tense
- The infinitive (base form) of the main verb
🔵 Formula: Subject + aller (present tense) + infinitive
🔵 Conjugation of “aller”:
| Subject | Aller (present) |
|---|---|
| Je | vais |
| Tu | vas |
| Il/Elle | va |
| Nous | allons |
| Vous | allez |
| Ils/Elles | vont |
Examples in Action:
- Je vais étudier ce soir. -- I’m going to study tonight.
- Nous allons voyager en France. -- We are going to travel to France.
- Tu vas adorer ce film. -- You’re going to love this movie.
- Ils vont cuisiner ensemble. -- They’re going to cook together.
- Il va manger une pizza.
- Il va boire un café.
- Il va retirer de l'argent.
- Il va partir.
- Qu'est-ce que vous allez manger ce soir ?
- Je vais manger une salande.
- Qu'est-ce que vous allez faire demain ?
- Je vais aller à la piscine.
- En général, je commence à 8 heures. Demain, je vais commencer à 9 heures.
- En général, je mange à la cantine. Demain, je vais manger au restaurant.
- En général, je travaille à Paris. Demain, je vais travailler à Versailles.
- D'habitude, je déjeune avec Léa. Demain, je vais déjeuner avec Paul.
- D'habitude, je dîne à 20 heures. Demain, je vais dîner à 21 heures.
- Est-ce que va faire beau demain ?
- Qu'est-ce que Marléne va faire ?
- Qu'est-ce que vous allez faire demain ?
- Je vais aller à la plage.
- Il va écouter un concerto.
- Nous allons faire du tennis.
- Ils vont dîner au restaurant.
- Vous allez étudier le français.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to confuse futur proche with other tenses, especially for beginners. Here's a quick tip:
🚫 Wrong: Je suis manger.
✅ Correct: Je vais manger.
🧠 Remember: “aller” is the helping verb here, not être (to be).
Futur Proche vs. Futur Simple
Want to go further? Here’s a quick comparison:
| Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Futur proche | Je vais partir demain. | I’m going to leave tomorrow. |
| Futur simple | Je partirai un jour. | I will leave someday. |
Use futur proche for near or certain events, and futur simple for more distant or uncertain future events.
Practice Time! Mini Quiz
Futur Proche Quiz
🎯 Futur Proche Practice Quiz
Le Futur Proche: Mnemonic Sheet
| Subject | Aller (present) | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | vais | Je vais lire un livre. | I’m going to read a book. |
| Tu | vas | Tu vas dormir tôt. | You’re going to sleep early. |
| Il/Elle | va | Elle va étudier ce soir. | She’s going to study tonight. |
| Nous | allons | Nous allons partir à midi. | We’re going to leave at noon. |
| Vous | allez | Vous allez visiter Paris ? | Are you going to visit Paris? |
| Ils/Elles | vont | Ils vont jouer au foot. | They’re going to play football. |
Real-Life Dialogue Example
Marie: Tu fais quoi ce week-end ?
Luc: Je vais visiter mes grands-parents.
(Translation: Marie: What are you doing this weekend? / Luc: I’m going to visit my grandparents.)
Final Thoughts
Learning le futur proche during my first week in Saint-Malo has made me feel more confident about speaking in everyday situations. Whether it’s telling someone your plans for the weekend or just saying what you’re about to eat, this tense is one of the first tools that helps you express yourself in French.
Try using it the next time you plan your day, en français, bien sûr ! 🇫🇷✨
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