Le Futur Proche (The Near Future)

The futur proche, also called the futur composé, is used to talk about actions that are going to happen soon or planned for the near future. It is equivalent to the English structure “be going to + verb.” The futur proche emphasizes that the action is already planned or is about to happen.

When to Use the Futur Proche

1. An Action That Is About to Happen

Use the futur proche for an action that will happen very soon.

Examples

  • Le train va partir dans deux minutes.
    The train is going to leave in two minutes.
  • Attention ! Il va tomber !
    Watch out! He is going to fall!
  • Nous allons commencer le cours.
    We are going to start the lesson.

2. A Planned Future Action

Use the futur proche to talk about plans or intentions.

Examples

  • Je vais visiter Paris cet été.
    I am going to visit Paris this summer.
  • Elle va acheter une nouvelle voiture.
    She is going to buy a new car.
  • Ils vont déménager le mois prochain.
    They are going to move next month.

3. An Action That Seems Certain

The futur proche is often used when the speaker believes the action is very likely to happen.

Examples

  • Il va pleuvoir.
    It is going to rain.
  • Tu vas réussir ton examen.
    You are going to pass your exam.
  • Nous allons gagner ce match.
    We are going to win this match.

How to Form the Futur Proche

The futur proche is formed with:

Present tense of aller + infinitive of the main verb

Formula

Subject + aller (present) + infinitive

Examples

  • Je vais manger. (I am going to eat.)
  • Tu vas étudier. (You are going to study.)
  • Nous allons voyager. (We are going to travel.)

Conjugation of Aller

Subject Conjugation
Je vais
Tu vas
Il / Elle / On va
Nous allons
Vous allez
Ils / Elles vont

Examples with Different Verbs

Manger (to eat)

  • Je vais manger.
  • Tu vas manger.
  • Il va manger.
  • Nous allons manger.
  • Vous allez manger.
  • Ils vont manger.

Finir (to finish)

  • Je vais finir mes devoirs.
  • Tu vas finir ton travail.
  • Elle va finir le projet.

Partir (to leave)

  • Nous allons partir demain.
  • Vous allez partir bientôt.
  • Ils vont partir en vacances.

Negative Sentences

Place ne…pas around the conjugated form of aller.

Examples

  • Je ne vais pas sortir ce soir.
    I am not going to go out tonight.
  • Elle ne va pas venir demain.
    She is not going to come tomorrow.
  • Nous n’allons pas acheter cette maison.
    We are not going to buy this house.

Questions

Examples

  • Vas-tu partir demain ?
    Are you going to leave tomorrow?
  • Est-ce qu’il va pleuvoir ?
    Is it going to rain?
  • Allez-vous voyager cet été ?
    Are you going to travel this summer?

Common Time Expressions

The futur proche is often used with expressions such as:

French English
dans une minute in a minute
dans une heure in an hour
ce soir this evening
demain tomorrow
bientôt soon
tout de suite right away
cet après-midi this afternoon

Examples

  • Je vais t’appeler dans une heure.
    I am going to call you in an hour.
  • Nous allons partir demain matin.
    We are going to leave tomorrow morning.

Futur Proche vs Futur Simple

Futur Proche Futur Simple
Used for actions that are about to happen or are already planned Used for future events, predictions, promises, and formal writing
Formed with aller + infinitive Formed by adding future endings to the verb
Common in spoken French More common in formal writing

Example

Futur Proche

Je vais appeler Marie ce soir.
I am going to call Marie this evening.

Futur Simple

J’appellerai Marie la semaine prochaine.
I will call Marie next week.

Story Example

French

Ce soir, nous allons préparer le dîner. Ensuite, nous allons regarder un film. Après le film, je vais appeler mes parents. Avant de dormir, je vais lire quelques pages de mon livre.

English

This evening, we are going to prepare dinner. Then we are going to watch a movie. After the movie, I am going to call my parents. Before going to bed, I am going to read a few pages of my book.

Quick Tips

Use the futur proche when:

  • ✔ An action is about to happen.
  • ✔ You have already decided or planned to do something.
  • ✔ There are clear signs that something is going to happen.
  • ✔ You are speaking in everyday conversation.

Summary

The futur proche (futur composé) is one of the most common future tenses in French. It is formed with the present tense of aller followed by the infinitive of the main verb. It is used to express actions that are about to happen, planned events, or situations that seem certain. Because it is widely used in spoken French, mastering the futur proche is essential for everyday communication.