⏱️ Pomodoro Timer
Set a timer for 25 minutes. Work through this page using the activities below. When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break!
When to Use the Near Future
- Talk about plans: Je vais jouer au foot (I'm going to play football)
- Describe future intentions: Nous allons visiter Paris (We're going to visit Paris)
- Say what will happen soon: Il va pleuvoir (It's going to rain)
How to Form the Near Future
aller (present tense) + infinitive
Take the verb aller in the present tense, then add any infinitive verb after it!
The Formula
| Subject | Aller (present) | + Infinitive | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | vais | jouer | I am going to play |
| tu | vas | manger | you are going to eat |
| il/elle | va | regarder | he/she is going to watch |
| nous | allons | visiter | we are going to visit |
| vous | allez | finir | you are going to finish |
| ils/elles | vont | partir | they are going to leave |
Examples
Je vais faire mes devoirs = I'm going to do my homework
Tu vas aller au cinéma? = Are you going to go to the cinema?
Elle va acheter un livre = She's going to buy a book
Nous allons jouer au rugby = We're going to play rugby
Vous allez manger à la cantine? = Are you going to eat in the canteen?
Ils vont regarder un film = They're going to watch a film
Negatives in the Near Future
Put ne...pas around the aller verb:
Je ne vais pas jouer = I'm not going to play
Nous n'allons pas sortir = We're not going to go out
Ils ne vont pas venir = They're not going to come
Questions in the Near Future
Tu vas faire quoi? = What are you going to do?
Vous allez où? = Where are you going to go?
Est-ce que tu vas jouer au foot? = Are you going to play football?
Common Time Expressions with Near Future
| French | English |
|---|---|
| demain | tomorrow |
| ce soir | this evening |
| ce week-end | this weekend |
| la semaine prochaine | next week |
| le mois prochain | next month |
| l'année prochaine | next year |
| bientôt | soon |
| plus tard | later |
Demain, je vais aller à Londres = Tomorrow, I'm going to go to London
Ce week-end, nous allons jouer au tennis = This weekend, we're going to play tennis
La semaine prochaine, ils vont passer un examen = Next week, they're going to take an exam
📝 Revision Activities
Pick at least TWO of these evidence-based techniques:
1. Brain Dump (Retrieval Practice)
Time: 3 minutes
Close this page. Write down:
- The formula for the near future tense
- All forms of aller in the present tense
- 5 time expressions for the future
- 3 example sentences
Check with a different color pen. What did you forget?
2. The Foldy Method
Time: 10 minutes
- Fold paper into two columns
- Left: Write pronouns (je, tu, il/elle, etc.)
- Right: Write the aller form + an infinitive (e.g., "vais jouer")
- Fold right column under, test yourself
- Check and repeat until perfect
3. Weekend Plans Challenge
Time: 10 minutes
Write a paragraph (6-8 sentences) about your plans for next weekend using the near future tense. Include:
- At least 6 different activities
- At least 2 time expressions (demain, ce week-end, etc.)
- At least 1 negative sentence
4. Teach the Teddy
Time: 5 minutes
Explain how to form the near future tense to a teddy bear, pet, or family member. If you can't explain it clearly, that shows you what needs more practice!
5. Tense Mixer (Interleaving)
Time: 15 minutes
Translate these sentences - they mix present, perfect, and near future:
- I play football (present)
- I played football yesterday (perfect)
- I'm going to play football tomorrow (near future)
- We went to the cinema (perfect)
- We're going to go to the cinema (near future)
- We go to the cinema on Saturdays (present)
This teaches your brain WHEN to use each tense!
💡 Why is this called "near future"?
Good question! There's also a "simple future" tense in French (je jouerai, tu mangeras, etc.) that's used for more distant or formal plans. The near future with aller is easier to use and perfect for talking about upcoming plans and intentions. For CE Level 2, focus on mastering the near future first!
🧠 Spaced Practice Reminder
Return to this page:
- Tomorrow - write 5 sentences about your plans
- In 3 days - test yourself on aller forms
- In 1 week - mix with other tenses