The future proche in French is a way to express actions or events that are going to happen in the near future. It is formed using the present tense of the verb "aller" (to go) followed by an infinitive verb. This construction is equivalent to saying "I am going to [do something]" in English.
Structure
The structure of the future proche is simple:
- Subject + "aller" (conjugated) + infinitive verb
Conjugation of "Aller" (Present Tense)
| Subject Pronoun | "Aller" Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | vais |
| Tu | vas |
| Il/Elle/On | va |
| Nous | allons |
| Vous | allez |
| Ils/Elles | vont |
Examples
- Je vais manger.
- (I am going to eat.)
- Tu vas étudier.
- (You are going to study.)
- Il va jouer au football.
- (He is going to play football.)
- Nous allons voyager.
- (We are going to travel.)
- Vous allez regarder un film.
- (You are going to watch a movie.)
- Elles vont visiter Paris.
- (They are going to visit Paris.)
Usage
The future proche is primarily used for:
- Immediate future plans: Actions that are planned or expected to occur soon.
- Predictions or assumptions about the near future.
Comparison with Simple Future
- Future Proche: Je vais parler. (I am going to speak.)
- Indicates an action that is imminent or planned in the near future.
- Simple Future: Je parlerai. (I will speak.)
- Refers to an action that will happen in the future, without specifying how soon.
Examples in Context
- Nous allons dîner au restaurant ce soir.
- Ils vont acheter une nouvelle voiture.
- Je vais faire mes devoirs après l'école.
The future proche is a versatile and common way to talk about future events in French, making it an essential tool for everyday communication.