The Near Future in French
The futur proche(near future) is a periphrastic tense commonly used in spoken French. It expresses what is going to happen or what is certain to happen in a natural, conversational way. This tense is incredibly useful for talking about upcoming plans, intentions, or events that feel certain or imminent.
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In this article, you'll learn how to form the near future, when to use it, and how it compares to the simple future. C'est parti !(Let's go!)
Questions This Article Answers
What is the futur proche in French?
How do you form the near future in French?
Is the near future used often in spoken French?
When should you use the futur proche instead of the futur simple?
What Are Periphrastic Tenses?
Periphrastic tenses are multi-word constructions that serve the function of a verb tense without using traditional conjugations. In French, they typically involve a conjugated semi-auxiliary verb followed by an infinitive. While they aren't "true" tenses from a grammatical point of view, they act like tenses in how they express time and aspect.
The two most commonly used periphrastic tenses in French are:
- the futur proche(near future) → aller+ infinitive
- the passé récent(recent past) → venir+ de+ infinitive
Curious about the recent past—the other commonly used periphrastic tense—or about periphrastic tenses in general? Check out our dedicated articles!
What Is the Futur Proche?
The futur proche(near future) is used to talk about something that's going to happen. It's often used in conversation and is more immediate than the futur simple(simple future). It's usually translated as the near future in English (e.g., I'm going to do something.)
How to Form the Futur Proche
The futur proche is formed with the present tense of aller(to go), followed by a verb in its infinitive form.
Conjugation of the Verb Manger in the Futur Proche
When to Use the Futur Proche
You can use the futur proche to do the following:
- talk about something that is going to happen
- make plans or predictions that feel immediate or certain
- express an action that is already in motion or inevitable
The Futur Proche: Immediacy and Certainty
The futur proche is often mischaracterized as a periphrastic tense that is used only to talk about things that are going to happen soon. However, immediacy is only one reason you can use the futur proche! You can also use it to talk about things that won't happen soon, but that will definitely happen or that are inevitable, as in On va tous mourir un jour.(We're all going to die some day.) And look at that—you even get a taste of French existentialism.
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Futur Proche vs. Futur Simple
Both tenses usually refer to the future. Here's the difference between them:
- The futur proche is used for near or concrete, certain future plans. It often translates as to be going to in English.
- The futur simple is used for the general or distant future. It often translates as will in English.
Dialogue Example
Here's a short phone call between two friends that highlights how the futur proche is used in conversation:
Need More Practice?
Try conjugating verbs in the futur proche with our Conjugation Drill! With a little practice, the futur proche will become a natural part of your conversations in French.
Learn more about French tenses in these articles!
