Le futur proche in French: When and how to use it

Key takeaways

• The futur proche (near future) expresses actions that are about to happen.
• It is formed with aller (present tense) + infinitive.
• It translates to English “going to”.
• It’s very common in spoken French, especially for immediate plans and predictions.
• It contrasts with futur simple, which is more formal and refers to distant or less certain events.

What Is the Futur Proche?

The futur proche is one of the most common ways to talk about the future in French. It refers to things that are about to happen or that you intend to do soon. It works just like English “going to + verb.”

Examples:

• Je vais préparer le dîner. → I am going to prepare dinner.
• Ils vont voyager cet été. → They are going to travel this summer.

How to Form the Futur Proche

The formula is:

Subject + aller (present tense) + infinitive

Unlike other tenses, you don’t need special endings for the main verb. You simply conjugate aller in the present and keep the main verb in the infinitive.

Conjugation of aller in Present

To reinforce this, the Lingolia futur proche conjugation guide provides complete conjugation charts. For a conversational angle, the Lingoculture article on futur proche illustrates how it appears in dialogue and daily interactions, making it easier to recognize in real life.

When to Use the Futur Proche

You’ll hear the futur proche constantly in French because it covers many situations.

1. Expressing immediate plans

• Je vais préparer le dîner. → I’m going to prepare dinner.
• Nous allons regarder un film ce soir. → We are going to watch a movie tonight.

2. Talking about intentions

• Ils vont acheter une maison. → They are going to buy a house.
• Je vais commencer un nouveau travail demain. → I am going to start a new job tomorrow.

3. Predicting something likely to happen

• Il va pleuvoir. → It’s going to rain.
• Tu vas être fatigué demain. → You are going to be tired tomorrow.

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Futur Proche vs. Futur Simple

Both tenses describe future events, but their tone and context differ:

• Futur proche → informal, immediate, spoken French.
• Futur simple → formal, distant, written or literary French.

Examples:

• Futur proche: Je vais voyager demain. → I am going to travel tomorrow.
• Futur simple: Je voyagerai demain. → I will travel tomorrow.

Common Mistakes with the Futur Proche

1. Forgetting to conjugate aller 
   
   • ❌ Je aller manger.
   • ✅ Je vais manger.
2. Using futur proche in very formal writing 
   
   • ❌ Nous allons signer le traité. (in a historical essay)
   • ✅ Nous signerons le traité.
3. Confusing futur proche with present tense for schedules 
   
   • In English, we say The train leaves at 7. In French:
   • ✅ Le train part à 7 heures. (present for schedules)
   • ✅ Le train va partir à 7 heures. (near future, emphasis on imminence)

The Lingoculture guide to futur proche points out these pitfalls with examples, and the Lawless French article on aller + infinitive helps you avoid mixing it with other tenses.

Exercises: Practice the Futur Proche

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of aller: 
   
   • Je ________ (étudier) demain.
   • Nous ________ (manger) ensemble ce soir.
   • Ils ________ (partir) bientôt.
2. Translate into French: 
   
   • I am going to read this book tonight.
   • She is going to call her friend.
   • They are going to visit Paris.
3. Correct the mistakes: 
   
   • Tu va partir à 8 heures. → ________
   • Je vais mangé une pizza. → ________

Answers

1. vais étudier, allons manger, vont partir
2. Je vais lire ce livre ce soir | Elle va appeler son amie | Ils vont visiter Paris
3. Tu vas partir à 8 heures | Je vais manger une pizza

Tips for Mastering the Futur Proche

• Describe your daily plans out loud: Je vais cuisiner, nous allons sortir, tu vas étudier.
• Pay attention to weather forecasts, which frequently use futur proche (Il va pleuvoir).
• Practice switching between futur proche and futur simple to grasp the difference between informal speech and formal writing.

The Rosetta Stone futur proche explanation highlights how it reflects natural spoken French, while the Lingolia futur proche guide provides useful tables to master conjugations.

To put futur proche in context, read our overview of French verb tenses. For learning strategies, check how to learn French effectively. And if you’re aiming for fluency, see how long it can take to learn French fluently.

Summary

The futur proche is one of the easiest and most natural ways to talk about the future in French. Built with aller (present tense) + infinitive, it covers immediate plans, intentions, and likely events. While the futur simple is more formal, the futur proche is ideal for everyday conversation.

Start practicing it in your daily routines to sound natural in French. You can reinforce it with dialogues and role-plays while you learn French with Promova. Over time, you’ll switch effortlessly between futur proche and futur simple depending on the context.