Say goodbye to complex conjugations and tricky rules for talking about tomorrow. In French, you can express future actions instantly using a friendly, two-verb construction just like English!
In English, when you want to describe an action that is about to happen, you don't always use the word "will". Instead, you say:
"I am going to eat." or "We are going to travel."
French uses the exact same structure! It is called Le Futur Proche (The Near Future). Rather than learning complex new endings, you combine the verb for "to go" with your main action.
Think of a future sentence as a three-part spaceship:
Close your eyes. What are the three parts of the "Rocket Formula" for expressing the near future in French? Recite them out loud before continuing.
Click on the option that best answers each question, then click "Reveal Answers" below to check your work!
1. In the sentence "Je vais dormir" (I am going to sleep), which verb acts as the "payload" or unchanged action verb?
2. What happens to the second verb (the action verb/payload) in a near future sentence?
3. Which English structure matches "Le Futur Proche" word-for-word?
Question 1: Correct Answer: dormir.
Explanation: `dormir` [door-meer] red by the engine verb `vais` [vay] .
Question 2: Correct Answer: It remains in its raw, dictionary (infinitive) form.
Explanation: Unlike standard conjugations where you crop endings, the payload verb is untouched. Only the engine verb changes.
Question 3: Correct Answer: "I am going to eat".
Explanation: "Le Futur Proche" is literally translated as "The Near Future", which mirrors "going to + action". "I will eat" is the simple future, a separate construction.
To power our future rocket, we must first review the present tense conjugations of the engine verb Aller (to go). Let's master the singular forms first:
| French Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je vais | [zhuh vay] | I am going / I go |
| Tu vas | [too vah] | You are going / You go (informal) |
| Il / Elle / On va | [eel vah] / [el vah] / [ohn vah] | He / She / One is going |
Look away from the screen. How do you spell and say "I am going", "You (singular) are going", and "He is going" in French? Recite them with their spelling in your mind.
1. Which spelling corresponds to "I am going"?
2. Translate "Elle va" into English:
3. True or False: "Tu vas" is pronounced [too vahs] with a loud "s" sound at the end.
Question 1: Correct Answer: Je vais.
Explanation: `Je` takes the form `vais` [vay] . `Je va` and `Je vas` are grammatically incorrect in French.
Question 2: Correct Answer: She is going.
Explanation: `Elle` is "she" and `va` is the conjugated form of "aller" for she/he/one.
Question 3: Correct Answer: False, the final "s" in "vas" is silent, making it sound like [too vah].
Explanation: Final consonants in French are generally silent unless they are part of a liaison (which we will learn next). The 's' in `vas` is completely silent.
Let's now master the plural forms of our engine verb Aller. These forms feature a key phonetic shift called liaison:
| French Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nous allons | [noo zah-lohn] | We are going / We go |
| Vous allez | [voo zah-lay] | You are going / You go (formal/plural) |
| Ils / Elles vont | [eel vohn] / [el vohn] | They are going / They go |
Normally, the final "s" in Nous [noo] and Vous [voo] is completely silent.
However, when the next word starts with a vowel (like the 'a' in allons or allez), the silent "s" wakes up and links to the next word, producing a buzzing [z] sound.
So: Nous allons becomes [noo zah-lohn] and Vous allez becomes [voo zah-lay] .
Close your eyes. Recite the plural engine forms of Aller. Focus on the buzzing 'z' sound liaison for "We are going" and "You are going".
1. How is "Nous allons" pronounced?
2. Translate "They are going" (feminine group only):
3. Which French form corresponds to "You (plural/formal) are going"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: [noo zah-lohn] - the s in Nous wakes up as a z sound to link with the vowel.
Explanation: This is a classic liaison. The vowel 'a' in `allons` forces the silent 's' in `nous` to be pronounced as a [z] sound, merging the two words into a single flowing sound.
Question 2: Correct Answer: Elles vont.
Explanation: `Elles` is the feminine pronoun for "they". `vont` [vohn] is the correct conjugation for they. `Ils` would refer to a masculine or mixed group.
Question 3: Correct Answer: Vous allez.
Explanation: `Vous` takes the ending `allez` [zah-lay] . `allons` goes with `nous`, and `vont` goes with `ils/elles`.
Now that we have our engine, we need some payload verbs (the actions). Remember: these verbs will sit after the engine in their infinitive (unchanged, dictionary) form.
| Infinitive | Pronunciation Guide | Meaning & Mnemonic Connection |
|---|---|---|
| manger | [mah-zhay] | To eat (Think of a farm manger where animals eat) |
| dormir | [door-meer] | To sleep (Think of a college dormitory where students sleep) |
| voyager | [vwah-yah-zhay] | To travel (Think of a long sea voyage) |
Without looking back, match the French verbs: manger, dormir, and voyager to their English meanings using your mnemonics.
1. What is the French word for "to sleep"?
2. How is the French word for "to travel" pronounced?
3. If you see the word "manger", what mnemonic link helps you remember it means "to eat"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: dormir.
Explanation: `dormir` [door-meer] means to sleep (linked to dormitory). `manger` means to eat, and `voyager` means to travel.
Question 2: Correct Answer: [vwah-yah-zhay].
Explanation: `voyager` is pronounced [vwah-yah-zhay] with a soft 'zh' sound (like the 's' in measure or treasure).
Question 3: Correct Answer: A stable manger where farm animals eat food.
Explanation: Linking `manger` [mah-zhay] to the physical image of a food manger is an elaborative memory hook that locks the definition "to eat" into your long-term memory.
Let's learn three more essential action verbs to round out our vocabulary for this chapter:
| Infinitive | Pronunciation Guide | Meaning & Mnemonic Connection |
|---|---|---|
| apprendre | [ah-prahndr] | To learn (Think of an apprentice learning a trade) |
| faire | [fair] | To do / to make (Think of a renaissance fair where crafts are made, or a factory) |
| aller | [ah-lay] | To go (Think of walking down a bowling alley, you have to go down the lane) |
Yes, you can use Aller twice in the same sentence!
For example: "Je vais aller..." means literally "I am going to go...".
The first vais is the engine (conjugated), and the second aller is the payload (infinitive).
Close your eyes. What is the French word for "to learn"? How about "to do/make" and "to go"? Recite them and their phonetic guides.
1. Translate "to learn" into French:
2. Which verb means both "to do" and "to make"?
3. What is the phonetic pronunciation of the infinitive "aller"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: apprendre.
Explanation: `apprendre` [ah-prahndr] is French for "to learn", connected to "apprentice".
Question 2: Correct Answer: faire.
Explanation: `faire` [fair] handles both "to do" and "to make" in French. There are no separate verbs for these in most contexts.
Question 3: Correct Answer: [ah-lay].
Explanation: The -er ending in `aller` is pronounced with an "ay" sound, just like `manger` [mah-zhay] and `voyager` [vwah-yah-zhay]. The final 'r' is completely silent.
Let's assemble our rocket parts! We combine:
Subject + Aller (Engine) + Infinitive (Payload)
Translate "She is going to go" in your mind. Break it down: Who is she? What is the engine? What is the payload for "to go"? Say it out loud.
1. Translate "You (singular, informal) are going to eat":
2. Translate "We are going to learn":
3. What is the correct translation of "Elle va faire"?
Question 1: Correct Answer: Tu vas manger.
Explanation: `Tu` matches the engine `vas` [vah] n> .
Question 2: Correct Answer: Nous allons apprendre.
Explanation: `Nous` matches the engine `allons`. The payload verb `apprendre` must remain in its dictionary form. `apprenons` is conjugated, which violates the magic formula rule.
Question 3: Correct Answer: She is going to do/make.
Explanation: `Elle` (she) + `va` (is going) + `faire` (to do/make) translates directly to "She is going to do/make".
How do we say we are not going to do something? We bring back the Negation Sandwich from Chapter 7!
The bread slices of our sandwich are ne [nuh] (which contracts to n' before a vowel) and pas [pah] .
In a near future sentence, the negation sandwich wraps only around the engine (the conjugated verb Aller). The payload (the infinitive) sits safely outside the sandwich on the right.
Subject + ne / n' + Aller + pas + Infinitive
Let's visualize:
→ "I am not going to eat."
→ `Je` + ne + `vais` + pas + `manger`
→ Je ne vais pas manger [zhuh nuh vay pah mah-zhay]
When wrapping `allons` or `allez` (which start with a vowel), the `ne` loses its 'e' to become `n'`.
→ "We are not going to travel."
→ `Nous` + n' + `allons` + pas + `voyager`
→ Nous n'allons pas voyager [noo nah-lohn pah vwah-yah-zhay]
Close your eyes. Translate: "They (masc) are not going to sleep." Remember to put the sandwich around the engine `vont` and leave `dormir` outside.
1. Translate "You (singular, informal) are not going to travel":
2. How is "Nous n'allons pas manger" pronounced?
3. Translate "He is not going to go":
Question 1: Correct Answer: Tu ne vas pas voyager.
Explanation: The negation sandwich (`ne... pas`) wraps around the engine `vas`. The payload `voyager` sits outside.
Question 2: Correct Answer: [noo nah-lohn pah mah-zhay].
Explanation: Because `allons` starts with a vowel, `ne` becomes `n'`. When speaking, `n'allons` sounds like [nah-lohn] as the "n" links to the vowel.
Question 3: Correct Answer: Il ne va pas aller.
Explanation: `Il` (He) + `ne` + `va` (engine) + `pas` + `aller` (payload meaning "to go"). The sandwich wraps around the engine `va`.
Let's see these concepts in action! Antoine and Léa are discussing their weekend plans. Read their conversation, listen to the audio, and follow the translations.
Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?
[kes-kuh too vah fair suh week-end]
"What are you going to do this weekend?"
Je vais aller au cinéma avec Marie. Et toi ?
[zhuh vay zah-lay oh see-nay-mah ah-vek mah-ree. ay twah]
"I am going to go to the cinema with Marie. And you?"
Moi, je vais dormir ! Je suis trop fatigué.
[mwah, zhuh vay door-meer! zhuh swee troh fah-tee-gay]
"Me, I am going to sleep! I am too tired."
Look away from the screen. How do you say "tired" in French? What does "ce week-end" mean? Recite them from memory.
1. Translate "I am going to go to the cinema":
2. What does the word "fatigué" mean in English?
3. In "Je vais aller au cinéma avec Marie. Et toi ?", what does "Et toi ?" mean?
Question 1: Correct Answer: Je vais aller au cinéma.
Explanation: `Je vais` (I am going) + `aller` (to go) + `au cinéma` (to the cinema). `Je vais au cinéma` means "I am going to the cinema" (present tense), missing the future "going to go" nuance.
Question 2: Correct Answer: Tired.
Explanation: Linked to the English word "fatigue" (physical or mental exhaustion).
Question 3: Correct Answer: And you?
Explanation: `Et` means "and", and `toi` is the stressed pronoun for "you" (singular/informal).
French people love their holidays, and they have a unique national tradition called faire le pont [fair luh pohn] , which literally translates as "to make the bridge".
If a public holiday falls on a Thursday (for example, Ascension Day in May), French employees will "bridge" Thursday to the weekend by taking Friday off as well, giving them an automatic four-day holiday. It is an extremely common practice across schools, government offices, and companies!
Construct the French sentence: "We are going to speak."
Click the word cards below in the correct order to place them in the rocket slots. Click a word inside a slot to remove it.
Test your memory across three levels! Select a French card, then select its matching English equivalent.
Import the official Chapter 12 flashcard deck directly into your dashboard to practice daily recall checks.
Complete all three tiers of the test to prove you have mastered Le Futur Proche with zero external assistance.
1. Which of the following is the correct French sentence for "I am going to eat"?
2. What does "Ils vont dormir" mean?
3. Select the correct negative sentence structure for "We are not going to travel":
4. Fill in the blank: "Elle _______ apprendre" (She is going to learn).
5. Translate the phrase: "Vous allez faire"
Choose the correct word from the dropdown menu to complete each sentence.
Write the complete French sentence (including appropriate spaces). Capitalize the first letter.
1. Translate: "I am going to travel."
Hint: Engine is for "I", payload is "travel".2. Translate: "We are going to eat."
Hint: Remember the engine verb for "we".3. Translate: "You (singular, informal) are not going to sleep."
Hint: Place the negation sandwich around the engine verb.4. Translate: "They (masculine) are not going to go."
Hint: Put the negation around "vont", and the payload is "aller".5. Translate: "What are you (singular, informal) going to do?"
Hint: Use the question marker "Qu'est-ce que tu..." followed by the engine and the payload "to do".