The stem changes, the endings do not
Most verbs build the future from the infinitive: parler → je parlerai. A few very common verbs have their own stem instead, which you cannot predict from the infinitive. The endings are the same for every verb.
The top 4: être, avoir, faire, aller
These four verbs are among the most frequent in French. You have to learn their stems by heart.
The four stems
| Infinitive | Stem | je-form |
|---|---|---|
| être (to be) | ser- | je serai |
| avoir (to have) | aur- | j'aurai |
| faire (to do, to make) | fer- | je ferai |
| aller (to go) | ir- | j'irai |
Un jour, tu seras grand.
One day you will be tall.
Tu auras 20 ans l'année prochaine.
You will be 20 next year.
Il fera beau ce week-end.
The weather will be nice this weekend.
Nous irons à Paris cet été.
We will go to Paris this summer.
être with the stem ser-
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | serai |
| tu | seras |
| il/elle/on | sera |
| nous | serons |
| vous | serez |
| ils/elles | seront |
The stem stays the same in every person; only the ending changes.
More common special stems
Double r
Tu pourras venir demain ?
Will you be able to come tomorrow?
Je t'enverrai un message.
I will send you a message.
venir and tenir: -dr-
A d slips into the stem: viendr-. Compounds such as revenir and devenir do the same.
Ils viendront nous voir dimanche.
They will come to see us on Sunday.
Je tiendrai ma promesse.
I will keep my promise.
Learn one by one
Elle voudra rester à la maison.
She will want to stay at home.
Tu devras faire attention.
You will have to be careful.
Il faudra partir tôt.
We will have to leave early.
