Level 2 Focus: The near future tense and talking about plans is primarily a Level 2 requirement. Level 1 students may learn basic future expressions but don't need to master this tense.
đź“‹ Sentence Builders
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Expressing the Future
The main way to talk about future plans in CE French is using the near future tense:
aller (present tense) + infinitive
Key Time Expressions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| demain | tomorrow |
| aujourd'hui | today |
| ce soir | this evening |
| ce week-end | this weekend |
| la semaine prochaine | next week |
| le mois prochain | next month |
| l'année prochaine | next year |
| bientĂ´t | soon |
| plus tard | later |
| après | after |
| avant | before |
| maintenant | now |
| pendant | during |
| enfin | finally |
| puis | then |
| prochain | next |
Common Future Activities
| Infinitive | English | Example with ALLER |
|---|---|---|
| aller | to go | Je vais aller au cinéma |
| faire | to do/make | Je vais faire mes devoirs |
| jouer | to play | Je vais jouer au rugby |
| regarder | to watch | Je vais regarder un film |
| visiter | to visit | Je vais visiter Paris |
| partir | to leave | Je vais partir en vacances |
| passer | to spend (time) | Je vais passer le week-end chez ma grand-mère |
| rester | to stay | Je vais rester Ă la maison |
Verbs of Intention
| French | English |
|---|---|
| vouloir | to want |
| pouvoir | to be able to |
| décider | to decide |
| proposer | to suggest |
Je veux rester au bord de la mer. = I want to stay at the seaside.
Nous pouvons aller au parc. = We can go to the park.
Example Sentences
Demain je vais fĂŞter mon anniversaire.
= Tomorrow I'm going to celebrate my birthday.
J'ai beaucoup d'invités et nous allons écouter de la musique et danser. Ça va être formidable!
= I have lots of guests and we're going to listen to music and dance. It's going to be great!
Ce week-end je vais jouer au tennis avec mes amis.
= This weekend I'm going to play tennis with my friends.
La semaine prochaine nous allons passer un examen.
= Next week we're going to take an exam.
Sentence Builder: Future Plans
| Time Expression | Subject + Aller | Infinitive | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demain Ce week-end La semaine prochaine Cet été Bientôt |
je vais tu vas il/elle va nous allons vous allez ils/elles vont |
aller faire jouer visiter regarder partir |
au cinéma mes devoirs au foot Paris un film en vacances |
đź’ˇ Top Tip
The near future tense is perfect for talking about your plans and intentions. Remember the formula:
aller (conjugated) + infinitive
For more details and practice activities, visit the Near Future Grammar Page!
Practice Activities
đź“… Exercise 1: This Weekend's Plans (15 mins)
Near Future Practice:
- Write 10 sentences about what you're going to do this weekend
- Use ALLER + infinitive for each one
- Include different time phrases: demain, samedi matin, dimanche soir, ce week-end
- Example: "Samedi matin je vais faire mes devoirs. Samedi après-midi je vais jouer au rugby. Samedi soir nous allons regarder un film en famille..."
🎂 Exercise 2: Birthday Party Planning (20 mins)
Creative Future Writing:
- Plan your ideal birthday party - write 12 sentences about what's going to happen
- Include: guests, location, activities, food, time
- Example: "Pour mon anniversaire je vais inviter 20 amis. Nous allons aller au bowling. On va jouer pendant deux heures. Ensuite on va manger de la pizza..."
- Use at least 3 different subjects: je, nous, on, mes amis
⚡ Exercise 3: Quick Future Conjugation (10 mins)
ALLER Practice - Complete each sentence:
- "Demain je _____ (aller) faire du vélo"
- "Ce soir tu _____ (aller) regarder la télé?"
- "Samedi nous _____ (aller) visiter Paris"
- "Mes parents _____ (aller) au restaurant"
- "L'année prochaine vous _____ (aller) étudier l'espagnol?"
Then write your own sentence for il/elle and ils/elles!
✍️ Exercise 4: Three Tenses Challenge (15 mins)
Past, Present, Future:
- Pick one activity (e.g., playing football)
- Write 3 sentences about it in different tenses:
- Past: "Hier j'ai joué au foot"
- Present: "Aujourd'hui je joue au foot"
- Future: "Demain je vais jouer au foot"
- Repeat for 5 different activities
đź”® Exercise 5: Future Goals (15 mins)
Long-term Planning:
- Write about your plans for next year, when you're 16, and when you're 25
- Use: l'année prochaine, quand j'aurai 16 ans, à l'avenir
- Example: "L'année prochaine je vais étudier pour mes examens. Quand j'aurai 16 ans je vais apprendre à conduire. À l'avenir je vais voyager dans le monde entier."