The future tense: what will happen

You already know aller + infinitive (going to). The future tense says what will happen, and is a strong way to show off at GCSE.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Making the future tense

Add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont to the infinitive. For -re verbs, drop the final e first: prendre, je prendrai. finir: je finirai.
Pronounjouer (to play)
jejouerai
tujoueras
il / elle / onjouera
nousjouerons
vousjouerez
ils / ellesjoueront

Irregular stems

The endings are always the same, even for irregular verbs.
VerbStemje form
allerir-j'irai
êtreser-je serai
avoiraur-j'aurai
fairefer-je ferai
pouvoirpourr-je pourrai
vouloirvoudr-je voudrai
devoirdevr-je devrai
venirviendr-je viendrai
voirverr-je verrai

Using it

Je vais jouer = I am going to play. Je jouerai = I will play.
Si + present tense, then the future: S'il fait beau demain, j'irai à la plage. = If it is nice tomorrow, I will go to the beach.
Time phrases: demain, la semaine prochaine, l'année prochaine, à l'avenir (in the future), un jour (one day).
Worked example

Translate: If it is sunny, we will go to the beach.

  1. If it is sunny: s'il fait beau (si + present; si + il = s'il).
  2. we will go: aller has the stem ir-, nous + -ons: nous irons.
  3. to the beach: à la plage.

Answer: S'il fait beau, nous irons à la plage.

Key idea

Future = infinitive (or irregular stem) + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. Irregular: j'irai, je serai, j'aurai, je ferai, je pourrai, je viendrai, je verrai. Si + present, then future.

Common mistakes
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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Complete with the future tense: Demain, je ___ au tennis. (jouer)

    1. joue
    2. jouais
    3. jouerai
    4. jouerais
    Show the answer

    Answer: jouerai

    Infinitive + -ai.

  2. Write the je form of faire in the future tense.

    Show the answer

    Answer: je ferai

    faire has the future stem fer-.

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All KS3 French lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.