Mission: share your plans for next summer
The futur simple (je partirai, nous verrons) for plans, predictions and promises.
FrenchA2 · Plans and favoursAbout 6 min: 2 reading, 4 practiceUpdated
- Form the futur simple from the infinitive + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
- Use the common irregular stems (ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, pourr-, viendr-, verr-)
- Choose between the near future (je vais partir) and the futur simple (je partirai)
- Talk about plans with si + present … futur
Plans and favours: lesson 1 of 5
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Level Level A2 (around the DELF A2 exam). Real French: talking about holiday plans and making promises.
What it is
Your mission: your colleague Nadia asks, « Qu'est-ce que tu feras cet été ? » Tell her where you'll go, how long you'll stay and what you'll do, and promise to send her a photo.
Forming it. Take the infinitive (drop the final -e of -re verbs) and add the endings, which look like avoir:
Text description
Present tense of partir: je partirai (ending -ai); tu partiras (ending -as); il / elle / on partira (ending -a); nous partirons (ending -ons); vous partirez (ending -ez); ils / elles partiront (ending -ont).
prendre → je prendrai, parler → je parlerai.
Irregular stems (same endings): être → ser-, avoir → aur-, aller → ir-, faire → fer-, pouvoir → pourr-, venir → viendr-, voir → verr-, vouloir → voudr-, devoir → devr-, il faut → il faudra.
Near future or futur simple? Both talk about the future. Je vais partir is everyday and close (plans already decided). Je partirai sounds a little more distant or formal, and it's the usual choice for predictions, promises and after quand (when): Quand je serai à Rome, je t'enverrai une photo.
If … then: Si + present, then the futur: S'il fait beau, nous irons à la plage.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
What is the futur of « je » with aller?
- aller has the irregular stem ir-
- That is the present
Show answer
j'irai. aller → ir-: j'irai.
Why it matters
Holiday plans, weather forecasts, promises and job adverts all use the futur simple. You'll hear it in every weather forecast (il pleuvra demain) and read it in every timetable change (le train partira à 9 h). It's also the polite way to promise: Je vous rappellerai.
Worked example
At the coffee machine with Nadia:
- Nadia: Qu'est-ce que tu feras cet été ?
- You: J'irai en Italie avec ma sœur. Nous resterons deux semaines à Naples.
- Nadia: Super ! Vous visiterez Pompéi ?
- You: Oui, s'il ne fait pas trop chaud. Et je t'enverrai une photo, promis !
- Nadia: Tu seras de retour quand ?
- You: Je serai de retour le 20 août.
Real French: in everyday chat, people often use the near future for firm plans (je vais aller en Italie) and the futur simple for promises and "we'll see": On verra ! (We'll see!) is extremely common.
Common mistake
Using the futur after si: wrong: S'il fera beau, nous irons…. After si (if) use the present: S'il fait beau, nous irons à la plage. (After quand, though, French does use the futur: Quand il fera beau…)
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
"If you come, we'll eat together."
- After si, use the present
- After si use the present, and on takes the il form: mangera
Show answer
Si tu viens, on mangera ensemble.. si + present, then futur.
Key terms
- futur simple
- the future tense (je partirai)
- ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, pourr-, viendr-, verr-
- irregular future stems
- on verra
- we'll see
- de retour
- back (home)
- promis !
- promise!
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 5 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| futur simple | the future tense (je partirai) |
| ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, pourr-, viendr-, verr- | irregular future stems |
| on verra | we'll see |
| de retour | back (home) |
| promis ! | promise! |
Practice
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 9 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| être | ser- |
| avoir | aur- |
| aller | ir- |
| faire | fer- |
| pouvoir | pourr- |
| venir | viendr- |
| voir | verr- |
| vouloir | voudr- |
| devoir | devr- |
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
« Demain, il … » (pleuvoir: to rain)
- The stem is pleuvr-
- That is the present
Show answer
pleuvra. pleuvoir → pleuvr- + a.
« Quand nous … à Paris, nous t'appellerons. » (être)
- After quand about the future, French uses the futur
- That is the conditional
Show answer
serons. quand + futur: quand nous serons.
Build the sentence
Build "If it rains, we'll stay at home." (start with "If")
Show answer
S'il pleut, nous resterons à la maison.. si + present, then futur.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
Mission role-play. You are Nadia, my French colleague, chatting at the coffee machine before the summer holidays. Speak naturally but clearly, at level A2, using tu. Start with « Qu'est-ce que tu feras cet été ? ». Ask one question at a time about where I'll go, with whom, how long, what I'll do, and what I'll do if the weather is bad. Tell me your own plans too. After each of my answers, tell me in English what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again; watch the future stems and si + present. When I have used the futur simple four times, including one irregular stem and one si sentence, and promised you something, say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
New to this? Read Practising speaking with an AI.
In short
- Futur simple = infinitive (minus final -e) + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
- Irregular stems: ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, pourr-, viendr-, verr-, voudr-, devr-, faudr-.
- Near future for firm, close plans; futur simple for promises, predictions, after quand.
- si + present … futur: S'il fait beau, nous irons à la plage.
- On verra ! = We'll see!
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Futur of « nous » with faire?
Show answer
nous ferons.
"I'll call you back tomorrow" (polite, vous).
Show answer
Je vous rappellerai demain.
Which tense comes after si (if)?
Show answer
The present.
Further reading
- RFI, Journal en français facile: the weather and the news of the day ahead use the futur simple.
- TV5MONDE, Apprendre le français, free A2 exercises on real clips.
Finished? Mark it done to fill in your leaf on the French map.