The future tense in French is a compound tense formed from the present tense of the verb aller (to go) and the infinitive of the main verb. The verb aller is conjugated according to the subject pronoun and the main verb is placed in the infinitive form without the “to.” This tense is used to express an action that will take place in the future, a plan or intention, or a prediction.
Unveiling the Future with Aller
The French verb “aller” is a versatile tool for expressing future tense, providing a straightforward yet elegant way to describe upcoming events. Understanding its structure is essential for effective communication in the language.
Simple Structure
The basic construction of future tense with “aller” involves combining the present tense of “aller” with the infinitive of another verb.
- Subject + present tense of “aller” + infinitive
Example:
* Je vais parler. (I will speak.)
Conjugation of “Aller”
The present tense conjugation of “aller” is:
- Je vais
- Tu vas
- Il/Elle/On va
- Nous allons
- Vous allez
- Ils/Elles vont
Infinitive of Verbs
To use “aller” for the future tense, pair it with the infinitive of the main verb you want to express. The infinitive is the unconjugated form of the verb, typically ending in “-er,” “-ir,” or “-re.”
Example:
* Parler (to speak)
* Manger (to eat)
* Dormir (to sleep)
Examples
Here are more examples of future tense expressions using “aller”:
- Tu vas manger une pomme. (You will eat an apple.)
- Nous allons dormir tôt. (We will sleep early.)
- Ils vont jouer au football. (They will play football.)
Special Cases
- When the main verb begins with a vowel, use “j'” instead of “je.”
Example:
* J’irai chez ma mère. (I will go to my mother’s house.)
- If the main verb is “être,” use “irai,” “iras,” etc. instead of “vais,” “vas,” etc.
Example:
* Tu iras à Paris. (You will go to Paris.)
- The negative form is constructed using “ne” and “pas” around “aller.”
Example:
* Je ne vais pas étudier ce soir. (I will not study tonight.)
Table of Forms
The following table summarizes the different forms of future tense with “aller”:
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | Vais | Ne vais pas | I will |
| Tu | Vas | Ne vas pas | You will |
| Il/Elle/On | Va | Ne va pas | He/She/We/They will |
| Nous | Allons | N’allons pas | We will |
| Vous | Allez | N’allez pas | You will |
| Ils/Elles | Vont | Ne vont pas | They will |
Question 1:
How can the future tense be expressed using the verb “aller”?
Answer:
The future tense with “aller” is formed by using the present tense of “aller” followed by the infinitive of another verb. The subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the infinitive.
Question 2:
What are the different uses of the future tense with “aller”?
Answer:
The future tense with “aller” can be used to express:
- Intentions or plans: The speaker intends to perform the action expressed by the infinitive.
- Predictions or expectations: The speaker expects or believes that the action expressed by the infinitive will occur.
- Scheduled events: The action expressed by the infinitive is scheduled to occur at a specific time in the future.
Question 3:
How can the future tense with “aller” be distinguished from the present progressive?
Answer:
The future tense with “aller” is distinguished from the present progressive by:
- Verb tense: The future tense uses the present tense of “aller,” while the present progressive uses the present participle of the main verb.
- Meaning: The future tense expresses actions that will occur in the future, while the present progressive expresses actions that are happening now or that will continue for a period of time in the future.
And there you have it, folks! I hope this little crash course on using “aller” to express the future in French has been helpful. Remember to practice, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Bon courage! (Good luck!) Oh, and thanks for sticking with me until the very end. If you’ve got any other French conundrums, be sure to swing by again. I’ll be here, ready to help. À bientôt! (Until next time!)