Futur proche or futur simple: a plan and a promise

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Compare je vais étudier and j’étudierai through a study-plan conversation. See how both futures work with demain, then test their forms and meanings.

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In short

Je vais étudier presents studying as an intention or development connected to now. J’étudierai presents it as a future event, prediction or undertaking. Both can describe tomorrow: choose the viewpoint that fits your message, then build its form.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

An adult learner studies with a friend by lamplight.
The evening study scene gives context to je vais étudier. Illustration: Atelier

What is the difference between the futur proche and the futur simple?

Je vais étudierI’m going to study

Focus: A current intention or an action seen as coming

aller au présent + infinitif

J’ai choisi ma formation. Je vais étudier le soir.
I’ve chosen my course. I’m going to study in the evenings.

J’étudieraiI will study

Focus: The action presented as a future event or undertaking

radical du futur + terminaison

J’étudierai le soir et je travaillerai le matin.
I’ll study in the evenings and work in the mornings.

The two versions can describe the same plan. The first makes the link to a current decision easy to hear. The second lays out what will happen. Both are useful in conversation, and the context gives each its emphasis.

A current decision and an offer of help

Reprendre ses études
  1. Nora

    J’ai décidé de reprendre mes études. Je vais suivre un cours du soir.

    I’ve decided to return to studying. I’m going to take an evening course.

  2. Malik

    Tu commenceras quand ?

    When will you start?

  3. Nora

    En septembre. Je vais travailler à mi-temps.

    In September. I’m going to work part-time.

  4. Malik

    Je t’aiderai à réviser si tu veux.

    I’ll help you revise if you want.

  5. Nora

    Merci ! Je t’appellerai quand j’aurai mon emploi du temps.

    Thanks! I’ll call you when I have my timetable.

Nora connects je vais suivre to j’ai décidé. Malik’s je t’aiderai offers future help. Nora’s je t’appellerai is a future undertaking too. The conversation moves naturally between both constructions. In the last line, j’aurai means “I will have”: mon emploi du temps is its object.

Can you use both futures with a date?

Each pair can refer to the same day or year
Futur procheFutur simple
Je vais commencer demain.Je commencerai demain.
Je vais reprendre mes études l’année prochaine.Je reprendrai mes études l’année prochaine.
Je ne vais pas travailler dimanche.Je ne travaillerai pas dimanche.

Demain locates the action. The construction presents the speaker’s view of it. In a negative plan, ne … pas surrounds vais; in a negative simple future, it surrounds travaillerai. A condition stays explicit: je viendrai si je peux makes the visit depend on being able to come.

Check the form and the message

Question 1No account needed
Use the futur proche for Nora’s current plan.Je ___ un cours du soir.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

vais suivre. The futur proche combines present vais with infinitive suivre.

Question 2No account needed
Which statement about demain fits the examples?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It can accompany either future construction.. Both je vais commencer demain and je commencerai demain are natural.

Question 3No account needed
Malik makes his offer with the futur simple. Which form fits?Je t’___ à réviser si tu veux.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

aiderai. The future with je ends in -ai: je t’aiderai. Aiderais is conditional.

Question 4No account needed
Choose the negative in the futur simple.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je ne travaillerai pas dimanche.. Travaillerai is futur simple; vais travailler is futur proche and ai travaillé is past.

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