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Module 07: Future and Conditional

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Status Difficulty CEFR Time

Master the futur proche (aller + infinitif), the futur simple, the conditionnel présent, and si-clauses for hypothetical situations and polite requests.

Table of Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Prerequisites
  3. Objectives
  4. Theory
  5. Key Concepts
  6. Examples
  7. Common Pitfalls
  8. Cross-Links
  9. Summary

Overview

This module introduces three new tense/mood forms: the futur proche (near future, formed with aller + infinitif), the futur simple (simple future), and the conditionnel présent (conditional — used for hypothetical situations, polite requests, and reported speech). Together with the si-clause structure, these give you the ability to discuss plans, predictions, desires, and hypothetical scenarios — a major step toward B1 communication.

Prerequisites

  • [[french/modules/04_verbs-present-tense]] — Present tense of aller (required for futur proche), and all verb conjugation patterns
  • [[french/modules/06_past-tenses]] — Verb stems (futur simple uses infinitive as stem)

Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Form and use the futur proche (aller + infinitif) for near future plans
  2. Form the futur simple using regular stems and irregular stems
  3. Form the conditionnel présent using the same stems as futur simple
  4. Use the conditionnel for polite requests and offers
  5. Construct correct si-clauses (si + présent + futur; si + imparfait + conditionnel)
  6. Use the futur antérieur (compound future: will have done) in basic contexts
  7. Distinguish between futur proche and futur simple in terms of register and imminence

Theory

Futur Proche (Near Future)

The easiest future construction: aller (présent) + infinitive of main verb.

Je vais partir.          I am going to leave.
Tu vas manger ?          Are you going to eat?
Elle va finir ce soir.   She is going to finish tonight.
Nous allons voir ça.     We are going to see about that.

Use: For imminent or planned future actions, especially in spoken French. More common than futur simple in casual speech for near-term plans.

Negation: ne + verb (aller) + pas + infinitive: Je ne vais pas partir (I'm not going to leave).

Futur Simple

Formation: Infinitive + futur endings. For -RE verbs, drop the final -e first.

Futur endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont (note: these are forms of avoir in the présent — a helpful mnemonic).

parler → je parlerai, tu parleras, il parlera, nous parlerons, vous parlerez, ils parleront
finir  → je finirai, tu finiras, il finira...
vendre → je vendrai, tu vendras... (drop -e from vendre)

Irregular futur stems (same list as conditionnel):

être    → ser-:     je serai
avoir   → aur-:     j'aurai
aller   → ir-:      j'irai
faire   → fer-:     je ferai
venir   → viendr-:  je viendrai
pouvoir → pourr-:   je pourrai
vouloir → voudr-:   je voudrai
savoir  → saur-:    je saurai
voir    → verr-:    je verrai
devoir  → devr-:    je devrai
tenir   → tiendr-:  je tiendrai
falloir → faudr-:   il faudra

Use of futur simple: - More formal than futur proche in speech - For predictions, future facts, instructions, and conditions - In si-clauses with si + présent: Si tu travailles bien, tu réussiras.

Conditionnel Présent

Formation: Same stem as futur simple + imparfait endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient).

parler: je parlerais, tu parlerais, il parlerait, nous parlerions, vous parleriez, ils parleraient
être:   je serais, tu serais, il serait...
avoir:  j'aurais, tu aurais, il aurait...

Uses of the conditionnel:

  1. Hypothetical (si + imparfait → conditionnel): 

    Si j'avais de l'argent, je voyagerais.
If I had money, I would travel.

  2. Polite requests (the "conditional of politeness"): 

    Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.  (I would like a coffee — much more polite than je veux)
Pourriez-vous répéter ?  (Could you repeat?)
Auriez-vous un stylo ?  (Would you have a pen?)

  3. Reported speech in the past (future → conditional in indirect speech): 

    Il a dit qu'il viendrait.  (He said he would come.)
J'ai pensé que tu arriverais.  (I thought you would arrive.)

  4. Suggestions with devoir or pouvoir: 

    Tu devrais partir maintenant.  (You should leave now.)
On pourrait aller au cinéma.  (We could go to the cinema.)

Si-Clauses

French si-clauses follow strict tense rules depending on the type of condition:

Type 1: Open condition (possible/likely) 

Structure: si + présent → futur simple (main clause)

Si tu travailles bien, tu réussiras.
If you work well, you will succeed.

Si elle arrive tard, nous commencerons sans elle.
If she arrives late, we will start without her.

Type 2: Hypothetical (unlikely or unreal in present) 

Structure: si + imparfait → conditionnel présent

Si j'avais le temps, je te téléphonerai*s*.
If I had time, I would call you.

Si nous étions riches, nous voyagerions.
If we were rich, we would travel.

Type 3: Contrary to past fact (counterfactual) 

Structure: si + plus-que-parfait → conditionnel passé

Si tu avais étudié, tu aurais réussi.
If you had studied, you would have succeeded.

(Type 3 is introduced here for awareness but covered fully in Module 09.)

[!IMPORTANT] Never use a future or conditional tense immediately after si (when si = "if"). This is one of the most common errors English speakers make because English uses "if you will" in some constructions. In French: si + présent (not si + futur), si + imparfait (not si + conditionnel).

Futur Antérieur (Brief Introduction)

The futur antérieur is formed with the future of être/avoir + past participle. It means "will have done" — a future action that will be completed before another future event.

Quand tu arriveras, j'aurai déjà mangé.
When you arrive, I will have already eaten.

Elle partira dès qu'elle aura fini son travail.
She will leave as soon as she has finished her work.

It is also used to express a presumed past action: 

Il n'est pas là — il sera parti.
He isn't there — he must have left. (supposition about past)

Key Concepts

Futur proche vs. futur simple: In informal spoken French, futur proche (je vais parler) is used for almost all near-future events. Futur simple (je parlerai) is more formal, used in writing, and for distant or predicted future events. Both are correct; register and context determine the choice.

Conditionnel as politeness register. The conditionnel is the standard French politeness strategy for requests. Je veux (I want) sounds blunt in a restaurant or shop; Je voudrais (I would like) is the expected form. Pouvez-vous (can you) is appropriate; Pourriez-vous (could you) is more deferential.

Si-clause tense agreement is rigid. Unlike English, which allows several variations ("if you would just..."), French si-clauses follow the rule strictly: si + présent/futur/futur antérieur (never conditional); si + imparfait (type 2); si + plus-que-parfait (type 3).

Examples

Example 1: Planning a Trip

L'année prochaine, je vais visiter la France.    (futur proche — imminent plan)
J'irai d'abord à Paris, puis à Lyon.              (futur simple — sequence of planned events)
Si je peux, je resterai un mois.                  (si + présent → futur: open condition)
Ça serait magnifique !                            (conditionnel: hypothetical appreciation)

Example 2: Polite Requests in a Restaurant

Vous avez une table pour deux ?  (direct question)
Je voudrais voir la carte, s'il vous plaît.      (conditionnel = polite request)
Pourriez-vous nous apporter de l'eau ?           (conditionnel = polite request, formal)
Ce serait possible d'avoir une table en terrasse ? (conditionnel = polite enquiry)

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Using futur or conditionnel after si (if).

Wrong:   Si tu viendras, on mangera ensemble.
Correct: Si tu viens, on mangera ensemble. (si + présent → futur)

Wrong:   Si j'aurais le temps, je viendrais.
Correct: Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais. (si + imparfait → conditionnel)

Pitfall 2: Confusing futur proche negation.

Wrong:   Je vais ne pas partir.
Correct: Je ne vais pas partir.  (ne...pas wraps around aller, not the infinitive)

Pitfall 3: Using je veux instead of je voudrais in service contexts.

Less polite: Je veux un café.          (I want a coffee — abrupt)
More polite: Je voudrais un café.      (I would like a coffee — standard)
Very polite: Auriez-vous un café ?     (Would you have a coffee? — very deferential)
  • [[french/modules/04_verbs-present-tense]] — Present tense of aller (for futur proche) and irregular verb stems
  • [[french/modules/06_past-tenses]] — Imparfait (needed for si + imparfait si-clauses in Type 2 conditions)
  • [[french/modules/09_subjunctive-and-advanced-grammar]] — Conditionnel passé (si + plus-que-parfait → conditionnel passé) covered fully in Module 09

Summary

  • Futur proche: aller (présent) + infinitive — used for near/planned future in spoken French
  • Futur simple: infinitive + endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont); irregular stems for common verbs
  • Conditionnel: futur stem + imparfait endings; used for hypotheticals, polite requests, reported speech
  • Si-clauses: si + présent → futur (Type 1); si + imparfait → conditionnel (Type 2)
  • Never use futur or conditionnel immediately after si (if)
  • Je voudrais (conditionnel of vouloir) is the standard polite request form
  • Futur antérieur: futur of avoir/être + past participle = "will have done"