When to use the Futur Simple: the Ultimate Guide in 2021

when to use the futur simple

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In this French grammar lesson we will learn about when to use the futur simple.

In this lesson you will learn about:

  • when to use the futur simple
  • how the futur simple is used in sentences
  • how you can quiz yourself on when to use the futur simple
  • how to practice with flashcards on when to use the futur simple
  • how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn French

Please refer to the French B1 Curriculum to get a better overview of French grammar, if you are curious about how this fits in the overall structure of French B1.

Please also read how to form the futur simple, to find out how you can form it.

By the end of the lesson you will know all about when to use the futur simple!

Table of Contents

When to use the Futur Simple

There are 3 cases when you would use the futur simple

  1. Describing future events
  2. In certain constructions about the future
  3. Express a probability in the present (rare)

We will handle all of them, and examples will be given for all of them.

Describing Future Events

You use the futur simple to describe a future event.

construire

Ils construiront notre maison en mars.

They will build our house in March.

se terminer

La pandémie se terminera en septembre.

The pandemic will end in September.

These are both events that will happen in the future.

In Certain Constructions about the Future

When there is a compound sentence in French, both the main clause and the dependent clause will be in the Futur Simple, if they are introduced by some conjunctions.

aussitôt queas soon as
dès queas soon as
lorsquewhen
pendant que*while
quandwhen
tant queas long as

* Pendant que is only valid if it’s about the future.

Please have a look at this sentence.

When I have time, I will go to Montreal.

Both parts of the sentence are about the future.

Yet, you use the present tense for the first part.

When I have time

However, you use the future tense for the second part.

I will go to Montreal.

In French, this is not the case.

avoir / aller

Quand j’aurai le temps, j’irai à Montréal.

When I have time, I will go to Montreal.

In French, both parts of the sentence are in the futur simple.

avoir / téléphoner

Aussitôt que nous aurons la réponse, nous vous téléphonerons.

As soon as we get the answer, we’ll phone you.

être / appeler

Dès que je serai à l’aéroport, je vous appellerai.

As soon as I am at the airport, I’ll call you.

aller / aller

Nous irons regarder le menu pendant que Luca ira chercher nos boissons.

We will have a look at the menu while Luca fetches our drinks.

avoir / aller

Tant que j’aurai la voiture, nous n’irons nulle part.

As long as I have the car, we will not go anywhere.

Express a Probability in the Present

Sometimes avoir and être will be used to express a probability in the present. This will show that something is possibly or likely to be true.

avoir

Mon père n’a pas mes clés. Ma mère les aura probablement.

My father does not have my keys. My mother probably has them.

être

Mon frère n’est pas à la maison. Il sera probablement au travail.

My brother is not home. He is probably at work.

These are both events that possibly could be true.

Example Sentences on When to use the Futur Simple

The final section of this lesson on when to use the futur simple is about seeing futur simple in action.

This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of when to use the futur simple through examples.

construire

Ils construiront notre maison en mars.

They will build our house in March.

se terminer

La pandémie se terminera en septembre.

The pandemic will end in September.

avoir / aller

Quand j’aurai le temps, j’irai à Montréal.

When I have time, I will go to Montreal.

avoir / téléphoner

Aussitôt que nous aurons la réponse, nous vous téléphonerons.

As soon as we get the answer, we’ll phone you.

être / appeler

Dès que je serai à l’aéroport, je vous appellerai.

As soon as I am at the airport, I’ll call you.

aller / aller

Nous irons regarder le menu pendant que Luca ira chercher nos boissons.

We will have a look at the menu while Luca fetches our drinks.

avoir / aller

Tant que j’aurai la voiture, nous n’irons nulle part.

As long as I have the car, we will not go anywhere.

avoir

Mon père n’a pas mes clés. Ma mère les aura probablement.

My father does not have my keys. My mother probably has them.

être

Mon frère n’est pas à la maison. Il sera probablement au travail.

My brother is not home. He is probably at work.

Quiz Yourself on When to use the Futur Simple

At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.

You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.

You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.

Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.

You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!

How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson

Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!

It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.

Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information.

There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.

  1. Anki
  2. The Flashcards in our Courses

Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.

After you have downloaded Anki, you can get our French B1 Anki Deck.

This Anki Deck contains 2,028 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for French B1.

All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.

You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!

However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?

The Courses of Language Atlas

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Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.

I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.

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