Le futur simple · radicaux irréguliers
1 · Four everyday anchors
Start with being, having, doing and going. These future stems differ from the present-tense forms.
| être → ser- → je serai | I will be |
| avoir → aur- → j’aurai | I will have |
| faire → fer- → je ferai | I will do |
| aller → ir- → j’irai | I will go |
Nous aurons le temps de discuter.We will have time to talk.
2 · Keep both written r letters
Each stem below ends in -rr-. Add the ending directly; the double letter stays.
| voir → verr- → je verrai | I will see |
| pouvoir → pourr- → je pourrai | I will be able to |
| envoyer → enverr- → j’enverrai | I will send |
| courir → courr- → je courrai | I will run |
| mourir → mourr- → je mourrai | I will die |
Vous pourrez choisir votre stage.You will be able to choose your placement.
3 · Two related families
Keep the d in viendr- and tiendr-. Related verbs follow the pattern: devenir → deviendr-, obtenir → obtiendr-.
| venir → viendr- → je viendrai | I will come |
| tenir → tiendr- → je tiendrai | I will hold |
Elle obtiendra une réponse lundi.She will get an answer on Monday.
4 · Four more useful stems
Use these for knowing, wanting, having to do something and receiving.
| savoir → saur- → je saurai | I will know |
| vouloir → voudr- → je voudrai | I will want |
| devoir → devr- → je devrai | I will have to |
| recevoir → recevr- → je recevrai | I will receive |
Tu devras confirmer ton inscription.You will have to confirm your enrolment.
5 · Two impersonal forms
For ordinary expressions of necessity and weather, use il. Keep these as whole forms.
| falloir → faudr- → il faudra | it will be necessary |
| pleuvoir → pleuvr- → il pleuvra | it will rain |
Il faudra répondre avant vendredi.We will need to reply before Friday.