{"success":true,"data":{"title":"Learning French","slug":"learning-french","excerpt":"Personal notes from four months of learning French, written as a reference rather than a tutorial. Covers the three verb groups and their present tense conjugation patterns, the auxiliary verbs avoir and être, reflexive pronouns, articles and how to say \"to the\" depending on gender and number, the past tenses passé composé and l'imparfait, and the two future tenses — le futur simple and le futur proche — including guidance on when to use each.","has_code_sample":false,"published_at":"2023-04-08T10:00:00.000Z","content":"\u003cp\u003eI go to France quite often and I’ve recently started to work for a French company which means frequent trips to Paris; as a result I’ve been making a big effort to learn the language. It’s really really hard! I’ve written up some notes, which is what you’ll find here. No relation to software engineering at all.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI feel I should warn you — I’ve been learning for four months and my knowledge is patchy at best. This information probably contains mistakes…\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"les-verbes-the-verbs\"\u003eLes Verbes (The Verbs)\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrench verbs are organised into three groups. These groups help us know how the verb is conjugated, which also depends on the pronoun it’s being used with.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"les-groupes-the-groups\"\u003eLes Groupes (The Groups)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1ème Groupe:\u003c/strong\u003e verbs ending in \u003ccode\u003e-er\u003c/code\u003e…sauf le verbe « aller » (except the verb aller — to go), which is in the 3rd group.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2ème Groupe:\u003c/strong\u003e verbs ending in \u003ccode\u003e-ir\u003c/code\u003e (usually). Both second and 3ème groupe verbs end in \u003ccode\u003e-ir\u003c/code\u003e but as a rule of thumb, English verbs ending in \u003ccode\u003e-ish\u003c/code\u003e tend to be 2éme groupe.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3ème Groupe:\u003c/strong\u003e verbs ending in \u003ccode\u003e-ir\u003c/code\u003e and \u003ccode\u003e-oir\u003c/code\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAround 80% of French verbs are in the first group; the second group is the second most common.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"present-tense-conjugations\"\u003ePresent Tense Conjugations\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are an intimidating total of 82 conjugation patterns in French. Thankfully the most common are the 1st and 2nd group conjugations which have a consistent pattern. Irregular and semi-regular verbs belonging to the 3rd group are responsible for the bulk of those patterns.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"1ème-groupe\"\u003e1ème Groupe\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInfinitive:\u003c/strong\u003e Aimer (to love)\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJ’aim\u003cstrong\u003ee\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu aim\u003cstrong\u003ees\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On aim\u003cstrong\u003ee\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous aim\u003cstrong\u003eons\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous aim\u003cstrong\u003eez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles aim\u003cstrong\u003eent\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSo for 1st group verbs, we drop the \u003ccode\u003e-er\u003c/code\u003e to get the stem (« le radical ») from the infinitive and add the termination, in \u003cstrong\u003ebold\u003c/strong\u003e above.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"2ème-groupe\"\u003e2ème Groupe\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInfinitive:\u003c/strong\u003e Finir (to finish)\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJe fin\u003cstrong\u003eis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu fin\u003cstrong\u003eis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On fin\u003cstrong\u003eit\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous fin\u003cstrong\u003eissons\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous fin\u003cstrong\u003eissez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles fin\u003cstrong\u003eissent\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs with 1st group verbs, we get the stem by dropping the \u003ccode\u003e-ir\u003c/code\u003e from the infinitive and then applying the correct termination based on the pronoun. Remember, some \u003ccode\u003e-ir\u003c/code\u003e verbs do not belong to this group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"3ème-groupe\"\u003e3ème Groupe\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, third-group verbs have no pattern; you must learn their conjugations individually. I’m told by native French speakers that this even catches them out sometimes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"auxiliary-verbs\"\u003eAuxiliary Verbs\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuxiliary verbs help another verb form a tense. This will become especially important shortly…but for now, there are two auxiliary verbs in French — « avoir » (to have, “ah-vwar”) and « etre »  (to be, “eh-truh”). These do not follow any conjugation patterns.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e« Avoir » is used more frequently than « etre ».\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e« Etre » is used with 17 verbs: \u003cstrong\u003e« aller »\u003c/strong\u003e (to go), \u003cstrong\u003e« arriver »\u003c/strong\u003e (to arrive), \u003cstrong\u003e« descendre »\u003c/strong\u003e (to go down), \u003cstrong\u003e« devenir »\u003c/strong\u003e (to become), \u003cstrong\u003e« entrer »\u003c/strong\u003e (to enter), \u003cstrong\u003e« monter »\u003c/strong\u003e (to go up), \u003cstrong\u003e« mourir »\u003c/strong\u003e (to die), \u003cstrong\u003e« naître »\u003c/strong\u003e (to be born), \u003cstrong\u003e« passer »\u003c/strong\u003e (to pass), \u003cstrong\u003e« partir »\u003c/strong\u003e (to leave), \u003cstrong\u003e« rentrer »\u003c/strong\u003e (to re-enter), \u003cstrong\u003e« rester »\u003c/strong\u003e (to stay), \u003cstrong\u003e« retourner »\u003c/strong\u003e (to return), \u003cstrong\u003e« revenir »\u003c/strong\u003e (to come back), \u003cstrong\u003e« sortir »\u003c/strong\u003e (to go out), \u003cstrong\u003e« tomber »\u003c/strong\u003e (to fall), \u003cstrong\u003e« venir »\u003c/strong\u003e (to come).\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"present-tense-etre-conjugations\"\u003ePresent Tense Etre Conjugations\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJe suis\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu es\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On est\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous sommes\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous êtes\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles sont\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"present-tense-avoir-conjugations\"\u003ePresent Tense Avoir Conjugations\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJ’ai\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu as\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On a\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous avons\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous avez\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles ont\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"pronouns\"\u003ePronouns\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"reflexive-pronouns\"\u003eReflexive Pronouns\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReflexive pronouns are used when describing an action someone does to themself (i.e. when using a reflexive verb). The reflexive pronoun goes between the subject and the verb:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJe \u003cstrong\u003eme\u003c/strong\u003e lave (I wash myself)\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls \u003cstrong\u003es’\u003c/strong\u003ehabillent (they dress themselves/they get dressed)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe reflexive pronoun changes depending on who the subject is:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJe \u003cstrong\u003eme\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu \u003cstrong\u003ete\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On \u003cstrong\u003ese\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous \u003cstrong\u003enous\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous \u003cstrong\u003evous\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles \u003cstrong\u003ese\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"articles\"\u003eArticles\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse an article when:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe noun it refers to is used in general terms: « J’aime le chocolat » (“I love chocolate”).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWhen the noun refers to a concept: « Le temps, c’est de l’argent » (“Time is money”).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWhen the noun refers to a country or region: « La France ».\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"au-à-la-à-l-and-aux\"\u003eAu, à la, à l’ and aux\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are all ways of saying “to the” or “at the”. The one we use depends on the gender and number of the noun.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Je travaille \u003cstrong\u003eau\u003c/strong\u003e cinema » — « cinema » is a masculine, singular noun.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Il est resté \u003cstrong\u003eà la\u003c/strong\u003e maison» — « maison » is a feminine, singular noun.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Je vais parler \u003cstrong\u003eà l’\u003c/strong\u003eami de Sweep » — « ami » is a singular noun beginning with a vowel or “h”.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« J’habite aux États-Unis » — « États-Unis » is a plural noun.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"past-tenses\"\u003ePast Tenses\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"passé-composé-perfect-tense\"\u003ePassé Composé (Perfect Tense)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePassé Composé is used when talking about an action that occurred in the past. To build a sentence in Passé Composé, you use one of the auxiliary verbs and the past participle of the verb that describe the action you did. So: \u003ccode\u003ethe pronoun\u003c/code\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e+\u003c/strong\u003e \u003ccode\u003ethe present tense of « avoir » or « être »\u003c/code\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e+\u003c/strong\u003e \u003ccode\u003ethe past participle\u003c/code\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"the-past-participle\"\u003eThe Past Participle\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the conjugations above, forming the past participle is a case of following a pattern depending on the ending of the verb:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ccode\u003e-er\u003c/code\u003e becomes \u003ccode\u003eé\u003c/code\u003e (« donner » becomes « donné »).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ccode\u003e-ir\u003c/code\u003e becomes \u003ccode\u003er\u003c/code\u003e (« finir » becomes « fini »).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ccode\u003e-re\u003c/code\u003e becomes \u003ccode\u003eu\u003c/code\u003e (« attendre » becomes « attendu »).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch5 id=\"examples\"\u003eExamples\u003c/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« J’ai donné » (literally “I have given”).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Tu as fini » (literally “you are done”).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Ils ont attendu » (literally “they have waited”).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4 id=\"using--être-\"\u003eUsing « être »\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e« Être » is used in two cases: for reflexive verbs and a select group of verbs mainly referring to physical actions. The latter are listed in the auxiliary verbs section above.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRegarding reflexive verbs, the formula is: \u003ccode\u003epronoun\u003c/code\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e+\u003c/strong\u003e \u003ccode\u003e« être »\u003c/code\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e+\u003c/strong\u003e \u003ccode\u003epast participle of the verb\u003c/code\u003e. Taking « habiller » (to get dressed) as an example:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Je me suis habillé » (“I dressed myself”).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Tu t’es habillé » (“you got dressed”).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e« Il/elle s’est habillé(e) » (“he/she got dressed”).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e…and so on.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"limparfait-the-imperfect-tense\"\u003eL’imparfait (The Imperfect Tense)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eL’imparfait is used when describing a situation in the past, to describe how something was, or to talk about a repeated action. To build a sentence using l’imparfait we must do some more conjugation. When building the conjugation we do not use the infinitive as the stem, but rather the conjugated form of the verb when used with “we” in the present tense.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n  \u003cthead\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003ePronoun\u003c/th\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003e*-er (1ème groupe)\u003c/th\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003e*-ir (2ème groupe)\u003c/th\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003e*-ir (3ème groupe)\u003c/th\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003e*-re  (3ème groupe)\u003c/th\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003c/thead\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJe\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJ’aim\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJe finiss\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJe dorm\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJe vend\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu aim\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu finiss\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu dorm\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu vend\u003cstrong\u003eais\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On aim\u003cstrong\u003eait\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On Finiss\u003cstrong\u003eait\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On dorm\u003cstrong\u003eait\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On vend\u003cstrong\u003eait\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous aim\u003cstrong\u003eions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous finiss\u003cstrong\u003eions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous dorm\u003cstrong\u003eions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On vend\u003cstrong\u003eions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous aim\u003cstrong\u003eiez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous finiss\u003cstrong\u003eiez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous dorm\u003cstrong\u003eiez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous vend\u003cstrong\u003eiez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles aim\u003cstrong\u003eaient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles finiss\u003cstrong\u003eaient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles dorm\u003cstrong\u003eaient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles vend\u003cstrong\u003eaient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConjugations in this tense are mercifully predictable. Here they are when using the auxillary verbs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n  \u003cthead\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003ePronoun\u003c/th\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003eAvoir\u003c/th\u003e\n      \u003cth\u003eÊtre\u003c/th\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003c/thead\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJe\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJ’avais\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eJ’étais\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu avais\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eTu étais\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On avait\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIl/Elle/On était\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous avions\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eNous étions\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous aviez\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eVous étiez\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles avaient\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eIls/Elles étaient\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"future-tenses\"\u003eFuture Tenses\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are two future tenses in French — the near future (« le futur proche ») and the simple future (« le futur simple» ).\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"le-futur-simple\"\u003eLe Futur Simple\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e« Le futur simple » indicates that an action will occur sometime in the future. When using this tense, we add endings to the infinite of the verb (\u003cstrong\u003enote:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003enot\u003c/em\u003e the stem). The endings used depend upon the pronoun of the subject of the verb. Taking « parler » (to speak) as an example:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJe parler\u003cstrong\u003eai\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu parler\u003cstrong\u003eas\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On parler\u003cstrong\u003ea\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous parler\u003cstrong\u003eons\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous parler\u003cstrong\u003eez\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles parler\u003cstrong\u003eent\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e(Note that the « s », the « as », and the « t » of the « ont » are silent). There is also a strong « R » sound before the ending in the pronunciation of this tense. If there is an E before the R, the E will be silent in modern gilded French: « je parlerai » sounds like « je parlRai ».\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMany irregular verbs have irregular stems in the future tense…there’s no trick to these; they need to be learnt. The ending is always the same, however.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"le-futur-proche\"\u003eLe Futur Proche\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlso known as « le futur composé », this tense is used when talking about actions in the near future. To build a sentence in le future proche, we take the present tense of « aller » followed by the infinitive of the verb we will do.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the following examples we are saying that the subject is going to go.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJe \u003cstrong\u003evais\u003c/strong\u003e aller.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTu \u003cstrong\u003evas\u003c/strong\u003e aller.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIl/Elle/On \u003cstrong\u003eva\u003c/strong\u003e aller.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNous \u003cstrong\u003eallons\u003c/strong\u003e aller.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVous \u003cstrong\u003eallez\u003c/strong\u003e aller.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIls/Elles \u003cstrong\u003evont\u003c/strong\u003e aller.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo negate these sentences we wrap the present tense of aller in the negation, for example: « je \u003cstrong\u003ene\u003c/strong\u003e vais \u003cstrong\u003epas\u003c/strong\u003e aller » — I am not going to go.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"which-future-tense\"\u003eWhich future tense?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsing « le futur proche » is more common in spoken French to describe events taking place in the near future. Unlike English, « le futur proche » reinforces the idea that the speaker believes the action will happen.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e« Le futur simple » is used in three cases:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHypothetical constructions (e.g. if the weather is nice, I will go for a bike ride).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eBig picture/grandiose plans with « quand » (“when”, e.g. when I grow up I will be an astronaut).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThings that are planned for in the future but are not “in progress” (e.g. I am going to buy a house one day).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf one of those cases is unmet, use « le futur proche ».\u003c/p\u003e\n","tags":["Foreign Languages"]}}