Futur Proche: Aller + Infinitive, French's Everyday Future
Futur proche (aller + infinitive) is how French actually talks about the future in speech. Formation, uses, and when futur simple is better instead.
Futur proche combines a conjugated form of aller with an infinitive: je vais manger (I’m going to eat). It covers both planned near-future actions and things about to happen immediately (tu vas tomber ! - you’re about to fall!). It’s the dominant future form in everyday spoken French.
Quick answer
Futur proche combines a conjugated form of aller with an infinitive: je vais manger (I’m going to eat). It covers both planned near-future actions and things about to happen immediately (tu vas tomber! - you’re about to fall!). It’s the dominant future form in everyday spoken French.
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See aller conjugated for the verb this construction is built on, and futur simple, the more formal future for the alternative.
Formation: aller (conjugated) + infinitive
| Pronoun | Futur proche |
|---|---|
| je | vais manger |
| tu | vas partir |
| nous | allons voyager |
Use 1: planned near-future
Je vais partir demain (I’m going to leave tomorrow) - a scheduled or intended action.
Use 2: immediate/about-to-happen
Attention, tu vas tomber ! (watch out, you’re about to fall!) - an imminent action, happening right now or very soon.
Futur proche vs futur simple: the real split
Futur proche dominates casual speech for most future reference; futur simple suits formal writing or genuinely distant/uncertain future. To negate: wrap aller - je ne vais pas partir (I’m not going to leave). See French conjugation for the wider system.
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Questions about this note
How do you form futur proche?
Aller (conjugated) + infinitive: je vais partir.
What's the difference between futur proche and futur simple?
Futur proche is the everyday spoken default; futur simple suits formal writing or more distant/uncertain future.
Can futur proche express something about to happen right now?
Yes - attention, tu vas tomber ! (watch out, you're about to fall).
Is futur proche used more than futur simple in speech?
Yes, significantly, in casual conversation.
How do you make futur proche negative?
Wrap aller: je ne vais pas partir (I'm not going to leave).