French Future Tense: Making Plans Together as a Couple
Learn French future tense to plan your dreams together! Master futur simple and futur proche with romantic examples, travel planning phrases, and couple activities.
Dreams, plans, and promises - the future is where your love story continues to unfold. Learning French future tense together allows you to discuss vacation plans, make commitments, and share your hopes for tomorrow. Whether you're planning a trip to Paris or simply deciding what to do this weekend, mastering the future tense brings you closer to your dreams as a couple.
Two Ways to Talk About the Future
French offers two main ways to express the future: the futur proche (near future) for immediate plans and the futur simple (simple future) for more distant or formal situations. Understanding both gives you flexibility in expressing your shared dreams.
Phrase to Learn
Nous serons toujours ensemble
We will always be together
[ noo suh-ROHN too-ZHOOR ahn-SAHM-bluh ]
A beautiful promise using the futur simple - perfect for expressing lasting commitment
The Futur Proche (Near Future)
The futur proche is the easier of the two and is commonly used in everyday conversation. It expresses what is going to happen soon.
How to Form the Futur Proche
Subject + aller (conjugated) + infinitive
Simply conjugate "aller" (to go) in the present tense and add any verb in its infinitive form.
aller + aimer
going to love
| Je | vais aimer | I am going to love |
| Tu | vas aimer | You are going to love |
| Il/Elle | va aimer | He/She is going to love |
| Nous | allons aimer | We are going to love |
| Vous | allez aimer | You are going to love |
| Ils/Elles | vont aimer | They are going to love |
Pronunciation: suh SWAHR noo-za-LOHN dee-NAY ahn-SAHM-bluh
"Ce soir, nous allons diner ensemble dans notre restaurant prefere."
When to Use Futur Proche
Use the futur proche for:
- Immediate plans: Je vais t'appeler (I'm going to call you)
- Near future events: Nous allons nous marier (We're going to get married)
- Intentions: Je vais apprendre le francais pour toi (I'm going to learn French for you)
French Planning Culture
French couples often make plans together over long meals. The phrase "On va voir" (We'll see) is commonly used when discussing future possibilities. It reflects a relaxed attitude toward planning while keeping options open.
The Futur Simple (Simple Future)
The futur simple is used for more distant future events, formal situations, and promises. It sounds more elegant and definitive than the futur proche.
How to Form the Futur Simple
For regular verbs, add these endings to the infinitive. For -re verbs, drop the final -e first:
| Person | Ending | French example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | -ai | aimerai | I will love |
| Tu | -as | aimeras | You will love |
| Il/Elle | -a | aimera | He/She will love |
| Nous | -ons | aimerons | We will love |
| Vous | -ez | aimerez | You will love |
| Ils/Elles | -ont | aimeront | They will love |
Teaching note: The ending changes, but the stem stays the same for regular verbs. This makes futur simple easier to predict than many learners expect.
aimer (futur simple)
will love
| Je | aimerai | I will love |
| Tu | aimeras | You will love |
| Il/Elle | aimera | He/She will love |
| Nous | aimerons | We will love |
| Vous | aimerez | You will love |
| Ils/Elles | aimeront | They will love |
Pronunciation: zhuh teh-muh-RAY poor too-ZHOOR
"Je t'aimerai pour toujours, quoi qu'il arrive."
Irregular Futur Simple Stems
Some common verbs have irregular stems but use the same endings. These are worth memorizing early because they appear constantly in plans, promises, and future predictions.
| Verb | Irregular stem | French example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| être | ser- | je serai | I will be |
| avoir | aur- | tu auras | You will have |
| aller | ir- | elle ira | She will go |
| faire | fer- | nous ferons | We will do/make |
| venir | viendr- | ils viendront | They will come |
| voir | verr- | je verrai | I will see |
| pouvoir | pourr- | tu pourras | You will be able to |
| vouloir | voudr- | il voudra | He will want |
| savoir | saur- | nous saurons | We will know |
| devoir | devr- | vous devrez | You will have to |
Tip: the stem changes, but the endings stay the same. If you can remember ser-, aur-, and ir-, you already have three of the most useful future forms.
etre (futur simple)
will be
| Je | serai | I will be |
| Tu | seras | You will be |
| Il/Elle | sera | He/She will be |
| Nous | serons | We will be |
| Vous | serez | You will be |
| Ils/Elles | seront | They will be |
Romantic Future Expressions
Expressing commitment in French involves a blend of the futur proche for imminent plans and the futur simple for enduring declarations. This section explores how to use these structures to build trust and share a vision of what lies ahead. Whether you are discussing the trajectory of your relationship or simply deciding on a dinner spot next month, choosing the right tense establishes a sense of shared intent.
We will examine the nuances of making promises, where the futur simple often lends a formal and solemn weight to your words. Additionally, we will cover the vocabulary necessary for planning travel together, a process that requires coordinating schedules and expressing excitement for upcoming journeys using various movement verbs in the future tense.
Making Promises
| French | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Je serai toujours la pour toi | I will always be there for you | [zhuh suh-RAY too-ZHOOR la poor TWAH] |
| Nous vieillirons ensemble | We will grow old together | [noo vyay-ee-RON ahn-SAHM-bluh] |
| Je te rendrai heureux/heureuse | I will make you happy | [zhuh tuh rahn-DRAY ur-UH/ur-UHZ] |
Pronunciation: uhn ZHOOR noo-zoh-ROHN oon may-ZOHN
"Un jour, nous aurons une maison avec un grand jardin."
Planning Travel Together
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Nous irons a Paris | We will go to Paris |
| Tu verras la Tour Eiffel | You will see the Eiffel Tower |
| On visitera les musees | We will visit the museums |
| Je t'emmenerai au restaurant | I will take you to the restaurant |
Pronunciation: lah-NAY pro-SHEN noo vwah-yah-zhuh-ROHN ahn FRAHNSS
"L'annee prochaine, nous voyagerons en France pour notre anniversaire."
Romantic French Destinations
When French couples discuss future travel, popular romantic destinations include la Provence (Provence) for lavender fields, la Cote d'Azur (French Riviera) for beaches, and la Vallee de la Loire (Loire Valley) for castles. Planning a trip together in French makes the anticipation even sweeter!
Comparing Futur Proche and Futur Simple
| Situation | Futur Proche | Futur Simple |
|---|---|---|
| Tonight's dinner | On va manger dehors | - |
| Wedding (certain) | Nous allons nous marier | Nous nous marierons |
| Distant dreams | - | Un jour, nous serons riches |
| Weather forecast | Il va pleuvoir | Il pleuvra |
| Formal promise | - | Je t'aimerai toujours |
When to Choose Each
Use Futur Proche when:
- The event is imminent
- You're speaking casually
- Plans are already set
Use Futur Simple when:
- Making formal promises
- Discussing distant future
- Writing or formal speech
- Expressing certainty about inevitable events
Couple Activities: Planning Your Future
Moving from abstract grammar to real-world application is an effective way to internalize French verb conjugations. This section provides structured exercises designed to help couples navigate different timelines of their lives together. By discussing goals and logistics, you transition from simply learning the future tense to communicating through collaborative vision-setting.
The following activities range from the whimsical to the practical. You will find a guide for dream vacation planning, where you can use the future tense to map out destinations and itineraries. We then shift to more substantial life goals conversations regarding career and living situations, followed by a short-term weekend planning exercise that focuses on the immediate future and the use of the verb aller followed by an infinitive.
Pronunciation: seh-stan-lay
"Nous nous installerons bientôt ensemble."
Activity 1: Dream Vacation Planning
Take turns describing your dream vacation using both future tenses:
Partner A: "L'annee prochaine, nous irons en Italie." Partner B: "Oui! Nous allons visiter Rome et Florence." Partner A: "Tu verras le Colisee!" Partner B: "Et nous mangerons des pates tous les jours!"
Activity 2: Life Goals Conversation
Discuss your shared future using these prompts:
- Dans cinq ans, nous... (In five years, we will...)
- Un jour, nous aurons... (One day, we will have...)
- Je serai toujours... (I will always be...)
- Nous ferons... ensemble (We will do... together)
Activity 3: Weekend Planning
Practice the futur proche by planning your actual weekend:
| Time | Plan in French |
|---|---|
| Samedi matin | Nous allons faire la grasse matinee |
| Samedi apres-midi | On va se promener au parc |
| Samedi soir | Nous allons regarder un film |
| Dimanche | On va cuisiner ensemble |
Pronunciation: kess-KOHN vah FAIR suh WEEK-END
"Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire ce weekend? J'ai envie de passer du temps avec toi."
Useful Time Expressions for the Future
| French | English |
|---|---|
| demain | tomorrow |
| apres-demain | the day after tomorrow |
| ce soir | tonight |
| cette semaine | this week |
| la semaine prochaine | next week |
| le mois prochain | next month |
| l'annee prochaine | next year |
| bientot | soon |
| un jour | one day |
| dans l'avenir | in the future |
Pronunciation: bee-ehn-TOH too suh-RAH par-FAY
"Ne t'inquiete pas, mon amour. Bientot, tout sera parfait."
Expressing Wishes and Hopes
When talking about hopes (less certain than plans), combine the future with expressions like:
| French Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| J'espere que... | I hope that... |
| Je souhaite que... | I wish that... |
| Peut-etre que... | Maybe... |
| Si tout va bien... | If all goes well... |
Example: J'espere que nous serons heureux ensemble. (I hope that we will be happy together.)
French Optimism
French culture values being realistic about the future while maintaining hope. The expression "On verra bien" (We'll see) reflects this balance - making plans while accepting that life can surprise us. It's a lovely mindset for couples navigating their shared future.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting irregular stems: It's "je serai" not "je etrerai"
- Mixing up formations: Don't add futur endings to "aller" in futur proche
- Using futur proche for formal promises: "Je t'aimerai toujours" sounds more romantic than "Je vais t'aimer toujours"
Your Future Together in French
Now you can express your dreams, make plans, and share promises in French. Start with simple sentences:
Notre avenir ensemble: Demain, nous allons nous reveiller ensemble. La semaine prochaine, nous visiterons un nouveau restaurant. Un jour, nous irons a Paris. Je serai toujours a tes cotes. Nous construirons une belle vie ensemble.
Practice these constructions with your partner. The future tense isn't just grammar - it's a way to dream together in the language of love.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I easily distinguish when to use 'futur proche' versus 'futur simple'?
Think of 'futur proche' as the 'going to' future, used for immediate plans or intentions. 'Futur simple' is more like the 'will' future, for more distant or hypothetical events. If you can replace it with 'going to' in English, use 'futur proche'. For example, 'Je vais manger' (I'm going to eat) vs. 'Je mangerai' (I will eat).
What are some common irregular verbs in the 'futur simple' that I should memorize?
Some of the most common irregular verbs include 'être' (to be), 'avoir' (to have), 'aller' (to go), 'faire' (to do/make), 'venir' (to come), and 'pouvoir' (to be able to). Memorize their future stems: ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, viendr-, and pourr-. Then, add the standard future endings.
How can couples practice using the future tense to discuss their shared goals and dreams?
Set aside time each week to talk about your future plans. Use the future tense to describe your career aspirations, travel destinations, and personal goals. Encourage each other to be specific and ambitious. This exercise can help you align your visions and strengthen your bond. Try starting sentences with, "Dans cinq ans, nous ferons..." (In five years, we will do...)
What are some useful time expressions to indicate when something will happen in the future?
Use expressions like 'demain' (tomorrow), 'la semaine prochaine' (next week), 'le mois prochain' (next month), 'l'année prochaine' (next year), 'dans un an' (in one year), 'bientôt' (soon), and 'un jour' (one day). These expressions add context and clarity to your future plans. Practice incorporating them into your sentences.
How do you express wishes and hopes for the future in French?
Use phrases like 'J'espère que...' (I hope that...), 'Je souhaite que...' (I wish that...), or 'Si seulement...' (If only...). These phrases express your desires and aspirations for the future. For example, 'J'espère que nous voyagerons en France un jour' (I hope that we will travel to France one day).
