The near future tense in French

L'avion va arriver dans quelques minutes (The plane is going to arrive in a few minutes). This sentence is in the near future tense arriver, futur proche, which is used to describe an action that is about to happen. It is formed with the present tense of the verb aller + the main verb in the infinitive (here, arriver). Another example: Théo va manger chez sa mère (Théo is going to eat at his mother's).

Théo et Anna vont partir à Paris (Théo and Anna are going to leave for Paris). This sentence is in the near future tense partir, futur proche, which we use to describe an action that is about to happen. Another example: mes amis vont venir à 13 heures (my friends are coming at 1 p.m.).

Demain, nous allons voir Betty (Tomorrow we are going to see Betty) is in the near future tense voir, futur proche, as it refers to an action that is going to happen soon. Anther example: nous allons faire une promenade (we are going to go for a walk).

Je vais faire les courses cet après-midi (I am going to do the shopping this afternoon). This is the near future tense faire, futur proche, which refers to an event that is going to happen soon. We form it with the present tense of the verb aller followed by the infinitive of the main verb (here, faire - “to do”). Another example: je vais préparer le déjeuner (I am going to prepare lunch).

We could say tu vas faire les courses (you are going to do the shopping), but the subject of our sentence is je (I) so we can't use vas here.

We could say nous allons faire les courses (we are going to do the shopping), using the first person plural form nous (we). However, we can't use it here as the subject je (I) is singular.

Jojo va monter les valises (Jojo is going to take the suitcases upstairs). This is the near future tense monter, futur proche, formed with the present tense of the verb aller followed by the infinitive of the main verb. We use it to refer to an action that is about to happen. Another example: il va ranger sa chambre (he is going to tidy his room). Wonders never cease!

We could say je vais monter les valises (I am going to take the suitcases upstairs), but the subject here is Jojo, which is equivalent to il (he).

We can't use the word aller-retour to form the near future tense, as it means “return ticket”! Example: je voudrais un aller-retour pour Bruxelles (I would like a return ticket to Brussels).

Attention, tu vas tomber ! (Watch out, you are going to fall!). This is the near future tense tomber, futur proche, which is used to refer to an action that is going to happen immediately. We form it with the present tense of the verb aller followed by the infinitive of the main verb (here, tomber - “to fall”). Another example: le train va partir. Attention à la fermeture de portes (the train is about to depart. Stand clear of the closing doors).

We could say je vais tomber (I am going to fall), but that isn't the correct form here as the subject is tu (you). Example: je ne vois rien et je vais tomber (I can't see anything and I am going to fall).

We can't use badaboum to form the near future tense as it means “crash, bang, wallop”! Example: badaboum, toutes les assiettes sont tombées par terre ! (crash, bang, wallop, all the plates fell on the floor!).

Vous allez voir un film chez Théo (You are going to watch a movie at Théo's house). This sentence is in the near future tense voir, futur proche, which we use to refer to an action that is going to happen soon. We form it with the present tense form of the verb aller followed by the infinitive of the main verb (here, voir - “to see”). Another example: vous allez faire un gâteau (you are going to make a cake).

Tu vas habiter à Rome l'année prochaine (You are going to live in Rome next year) is in the near future tense habiter, futur proche, which is often used in everyday spoken French to refer to a more distant event in the future. Another example: où tu vas vivre quand tu seras grand ? (where are you going to live when you grow up?). Pah! Lesson writers never grow up.

Il va pleuvoir aujourd'hui (it is going to rain today). This sentence is in the near future tense pleuvoir, futur proche, which we use to refer to an event or action that is about to happen. Note: the verb pleuvoir (to rain) is impersonal, which means that it is only ever conjugated with il (it). Ex. : il va pleuvoir toute la semaine (it is going to rain all week).