Near future: aller + infinitive (“going to …”)
The Futur Proche — Talking About the Near Future
French has a super-simple cheat code to start talking about the future: the futur proche.
It works just like English “I am going to …” and is perfect for immediate actions or certain plans.
The Concept — Aller + …
Objective: Understand how the near future works.
Usage:
- Immediate or planned actions
- Certain intentions
Formula:
ALLER (present) + infinitive
Example:
Je vais manger → I am going to eat Tu vas étudier → You are going to study
It’s regular and predictable — no surprises here.
Quick Review of Aller 🏃♂️
Do you remember the Present tense of Aller?
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | vais |
| tu | vas |
| il/elle/on | va |
| nous | allons |
| vous | allez |
| ils/elles | vont |
👉 If you know Aller in the present, you already know the futur proche.
The Magic of the Infinitive
Unlike passé composé or futur simple:
- The infinitive stays exactly the same.
Examples:
- Je vais être → I am going to be
- Je vais faire → I am going to do
- Je vais aller → I am going to go
Even tricky verbs are completely regular here.
Important Note 2
When using pronouns (me, te, lui, le, la, nous, vous, leur, les), they belong to the action, not the helper verb.
The Rule: Place the pronoun directly before the infinitive, never before the verb "aller".
- Incorrect: Je lui vais téléphoner. ❌
- Correct: Je vais lui téléphoner. ✅ (I am going to call him/her.)
Key Takeaways
- Futur proche = Aller + infinitive
- Main verb never changes
- Use futur proche for immediate actions or certain plans; futur simple for long-term predictions
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
