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Future after quand in French: quand tu arriveras, je partirai

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

See why French uses the future after quand, compare when with if, and practise future time clauses, habitual statements and questions.

In short

For a future time clause, French uses a future form after quand: quand tu arriveras, je t’appellerai. English says “when you arrive”, with a present form. French also uses quand for present habits and past events, so choose the tense for the time you mean.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A woman leaves her tidy desk for a break by an open window.
A break follows quand j’aurai terminé ce travail. Illustration: Atelier

Quand + futur · fiche

1 · Put both future events in the future

In “when you arrive, I’ll call you”, English uses the present after “when”. In French, arriveras and appellerai both point forward.

Quand tu arriveras, je t’appellerai.When you arrive, I’ll call you.

Nous partirons quand Léa sera prête.We’ll leave when Léa is ready.

2 · Match each verb to its own subject

The two clauses can have different subjects. Use tu finiras, but nous parlerons. Moving the time clause to the end keeps the same relationship.

Quand tu finiras tes études, nous parlerons de tes projets.When you finish your studies, we’ll talk about your plans.

Nous parlerons de tes projets quand tu finiras tes études.We’ll talk about your plans when you finish your studies.

3 · Use the future perfect for prior completion

The futur antérieur makes one action complete before another future action. Build it with a future auxiliary and a past participle: j’aurai terminé.

Quand j’aurai terminé ce travail, je prendrai une pause.When I’ve finished this work, I’ll take a break.

4 · Keep present habits in the present

A recurring routine can use the present in both clauses. A past routine can use the imparfait. The word quand introduces the time relationship in all three periods.

Quand je travaille chez moi, je fais une pause à midi.When I work from home, I take a break at noon.

Quand j’étais étudiante, je travaillais le samedi.When I was a student, I worked on Saturdays.

5 · Separate a time clause from a question

A time clause connects events. A direct question asks when. An indirect question can keep the future too; it asks for a time rather than setting a condition.

Quand commenceras-tu ta formation ?When will you start your training?

Je ne sais pas quand elle commencera.I don’t know when it will start.

6 · For an ordinary future if-condition, use si + present

Quand means “when” and supplies a time reference. Si means “if” and sets a condition. In this open future condition, use the present after si and the future in the result.

Quand tu auras le temps, tu m’appelleras.When you have time, you’ll call me.

Si tu as le temps, tu m’appelleras.If you have time, you’ll call me.

Why does French use the future after quand?

Four future stems
InfinitiveWith jeWith tuWith elle
arriverj’arriveraitu arriveraselle arrivera
êtreje seraitu seraselle sera
avoirj’auraitu auraselle aura
finirje finiraitu finiraselle finira

For a clearly future plan, quand + futur is the useful model. You will also hear present forms for arranged future events, such as quand tu arrives demain. The questions below specify the future form or habitual meaning to practise.

Question 1No account needed
Use the futur simple of arriver for tomorrow’s plan.Quand tu ___ demain, nous parlerons de ton projet.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

arriveras. Tu arriveras is the futur simple. English uses “arrive” in the matching when-clause.

Question 2No account needed
Use the future perfect to show the work will be complete before the call.Quand j’___, je t’appellerai.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

aurai terminé. Aurai terminé combines future avoir with a past participle. Terminer is the infinitive.

Question 3No account needed
Complete this present habit.Chaque semaine, quand je ___ chez moi, je déjeune à midi.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

travaille. The sentence describes a current routine: both verbs are in the present.

Question 4No account needed
Complete an open future condition with si.Si tu ___ le temps demain, tu m’appelleras.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

as. For this future if-condition, use present as after si, then future appelleras.

Question 5No account needed
Complete the indirect question with the future of commencer.Je ne sais pas quand la formation ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

commencera. This asks when the course will start. Future commencera belongs inside the indirect question.

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