Why is "Not dropping the final -e on -re verbs (writing *vendrerai* or *vendreai*)" a common mistake in Future simple tense?

Why it happens: Learners apply the -er/-ir rule (keep the whole infinitive) to -re verbs by mistake. How to avoid it: For -re verbs, drop the final -e first so the stem ends in -r: *vendre → vendr- → je vendrai*, *prendre → prendr- → je prendrai*. The stem must end in -r, never -re. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), verb accuracy

Why is "Using a regular stem for an irregular verb (*j'allerai* for *j'irai*, *je faisrai* for *je ferai*)" a common mistake in Future simple tense?

Why it happens: Beginners assume every verb keeps its infinitive, not realising a small group has special stems. How to avoid it: Memorise the core irregular stems as a chant: être→ser-, avoir→aur-, aller→ir-, faire→fer-. Build from the stem, then add normal endings. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4

Why is "Using the future after *si* (writing *si je serai* instead of *si je suis*)" a common mistake in Future simple tense?

Why it happens: Learners copy the English structure 'if it WILL rain', which is itself wrong in careful English too. How to avoid it: After *si* (if), use the present; put the future only in the result clause: *Si j'ai le temps, je viendrai.* (If I have time, I will come.) Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), conditional sentences

Why is "Using the present after *quand* (writing *quand je suis grand* for a future idea)" a common mistake in Future simple tense?

Why it happens: English uses the present after 'when' ('When I am older'), so learners transfer that habit. How to avoid it: After *quand / lorsque / dès que*, use the FUTURE in French: *Quand je serai grand, je voyagerai.* (When I'm older, I'll travel.) Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)

Why is "Confusing the future and the conditional (*je verrai* 'I will see' vs *je verrais* 'I would see')" a common mistake in Future simple tense?

Why it happens: The endings look and sound almost identical (-rai vs -rais), and both stems end in -r. How to avoid it: Future endings = avoir present (ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont) and a closed 'ay' on *-rai*. Conditional endings = imperfect (-rais, -rais, -rait, -rions, -riez, -raient) with an open 'eh'. 'Will' = future; 'would' = conditional. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 1 (Listening) & Paper 4

Why is "Staying in the present tense when the task asks about the future" a common mistake in Future simple tense?

Why it happens: The present is safer and more familiar, so beginners avoid the future altogether. How to avoid it: When you see a future time marker (demain, l'année prochaine, un jour) or a 'will' question, switch to the future simple — even one or two correct future verbs widen your tense range and raise the mark. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4, range of language

Verb Tenses and MoodsCambridge IGCSE French (0520)

Future simple tense

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The future simple tense (le futur simple) — Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 (2025-2027)

A complete beginner's guide to talking about what will happen in French: when to use the future simple, how to build it from the infinitive, and the handful of irregular stems you must memorise. Unlock the future-time marks examiners look for across Speaking and Writing.

At a glance

The future simple (le futur simple) is the French equivalent of English 'will + verb': je mangerai (I will eat), nous irons (we will go).
To build it for regular verbs, you start from the infinitive (the whole verb) and add one set of endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
Those endings are the same for all three verb groups (-er, -ir, -re) — you only learn them once.
-re verbs drop the final -e before adding the endings: vendre (to sell) → je vendrai (I will sell).
Every future-stem ends in the letter -r, which is the signal of the tense — you can always hear or see the 'r' before the ending.
A small group of very common verbs have irregular future stems you must learn by heart: être → ser-, avoir → aur-, aller → ir-, faire → fer-.
Time markers like demain (tomorrow), l'année prochaine (next year) and un jour (one day) signal that the future is needed.
Don't confuse it with the near future (je vais manger — I'm going to eat); the future simple feels slightly more formal and more about plans/predictions.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0520 syllabus (2025-2027).

Recognise the future simple in spoken and written French and translate it accurately into English 'will'.
Form the future simple of regular -er, -ir and -re verbs from the infinitive.
Recall and apply the six future-tense endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont) for all persons.
Memorise and use the high-frequency irregular future stems (être, avoir, aller, faire, venir, voir, pouvoir, devoir, vouloir).
Use common future time markers (demain, bientôt, l'année prochaine, un jour) correctly.
Distinguish the future simple from the near future (futur proche) and choose the right one.
Produce future-time sentences in Paper 3 Speaking and Paper 4 Writing to access higher tense-range marks.

When to use the future simple — it means 'will'

Use the future simple for things that will happen later: plans, predictions and promises.

The future simple (le futur simple) is how French says 'will + verb'. If in English you would say I will travel, she will arrive, we will see, then in French you reach for the future simple.

English	French (future simple)
I will eat later	je mangerai plus tard
She will arrive tomorrow	elle arrivera demain
We will go to France	nous irons en France
They will be happy	ils seront contents

Use it for three main jobs:

Plans and intentions further off in time: L'année prochaine, j'étudierai à Paris. (Next year, I will study in Paris.)
Predictions about what will happen: Il fera beau demain. (It will be nice weather tomorrow.)
Promises: Je t'aiderai. (I will help you.)

Watch the look-alike English 'will'. In English "will" sometimes means willingness ("Will you pass the salt?") rather than future time. French uses the future simple for genuine future time, so first check: does it mean it is going to happen later? If yes, use the futur simple.

Worked mini-example. Translate "Tomorrow I will visit my grandmother." First spot the future-time signal (tomorrow / demain) and the verb visit → visiter. Result: Demain, je visiterai ma grand-mère. (vee-zee-tuh-RAY).

Future simple = English 'will + verb'.
Use it for plans, predictions and promises set later in time.
Time markers like demain (tomorrow) and l'année prochaine (next year) often signal it.
Check English 'will' really means future time, not just willingness.

How to form it — infinitive + one set of endings

Take the infinitive (drop the -e on -re verbs) and add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.

This is the friendliest tense to build, because the stem is almost always just the infinitive — the whole, unchanged verb — and the endings are identical for all three groups.

The future simple is the infinitive stem (always ending in -r) plus one fixed set of endings.

The six endings — learn these once and you have the whole tense:

Person	Ending	Sounds like
je	-ai	"ay"
tu	-as	"ah" (s silent)
il / elle / on	-a	"ah"
nous	-ons	"on" (nasal)
vous	-ez	"ay"
ils / elles	-ont	"on" (nasal)

Notice these endings are exactly the present tense of avoir (to have) without the av-: ai, as, a, (av)ons, (av)ez, ont. That is a handy memory hook.

Group 1: -er verbs (the biggest group). Keep the whole infinitive:

Person	parler (to speak)	English
je	parlerai	I will speak
tu	parleras	you will speak
il / elle	parlera	he / she will speak
nous	parlerons	we will speak
vous	parlerez	you will speak
ils / elles	parleront	they will speak

Group 2: -ir verbs. Keep the whole infinitive: finir (to finish) → je finirai (I will finish), nous finirons (we will finish), ils finiront (they will finish).

Group 3: -re verbs. Drop the final -e, then add the endings: vendre (to sell) → stem vendr- → je vendrai (I will sell), tu vendras (you will sell), nous vendrons (we will sell).

Worked mini-example. Conjugate choisir (to choose) for nous. It's an -ir verb, so keep the whole infinitive and add -ons: choisir + -ons = nous choisirons (we will choose), pronounced shwa-zee-RON.

Endings (all verbs): -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
-er and -ir verbs: stem = the whole infinitive (parler-, finir-).
-re verbs: drop the final -e first (vendre → vendr-).
Every future stem ends in -r — that's the audible signal of the tense.
The endings match avoir (ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont) — a useful memory hook.

The irregular stems you must memorise

A short list of very common verbs use a special future stem — but the endings stay identical.

Here is the good news: only the stem changes for irregular verbs — the endings never change (still -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont). So once you know the new stem, the rest is automatic.

These appear constantly, so it's worth memorising them as a chant. Every stem still ends in -r.

Infinitive	Meaning	Future stem	Example (je)	English
être	to be	ser-	je serai	I will be
avoir	to have	aur-	j'aurai	I will have
aller	to go	ir-	j'irai	I will go
faire	to do/make	fer-	je ferai	I will do/make
venir	to come	viendr-	je viendrai	I will come
voir	to see	verr-	je verrai	I will see
pouvoir	to be able to	pourr-	je pourrai	I will be able to
devoir	to have to	devr-	je devrai	I will have to
vouloir	to want	voudr-	je voudrai	I will want
savoir	to know	saur-	je saurai	I will know
envoyer	to send	enverr-	j'enverrai	I will send

A special tiny set: falloir (to be necessary) → il faudra (it will be necessary) and pleuvoir (to rain) → il pleuvra (it will rain). These only ever appear in the il form.

Worked mini-example. Say "We will be in France next year." Verb is être (to be) → future stem ser-, and nous takes -ons: Nous serons en France l'année prochaine. (noo suh-RON…). Notice you do not start from être itself — you must use the irregular stem ser-.

Irregular verbs change only the stem; the endings stay -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
Top four to chant: être → ser-, avoir → aur-, aller → ir-, faire → fer-.
Also high-frequency: venir → viendr-, voir → verr-, pouvoir → pourr-, devoir → devr-, vouloir → voudr-.
il faudra (it will be necessary), il pleuvra (it will rain) — only the il form exists.
Every stem ends in -r, just like the regular ones.

Time markers and word order

Future signposts and where they sit in the sentence.

Future sentences usually carry a time marker that signals 'later'. Learning these gives the examiner an instant clue that you have used the tense deliberately and correctly.

French	English
demain	tomorrow
après-demain	the day after tomorrow
bientôt	soon
plus tard	later
ce soir	this evening / tonight
la semaine prochaine	next week
l'année prochaine	next year
dans deux ans	in two years
un jour	one day
à l'avenir	in the future

Word order is flexible for the time marker. Like in English, a time phrase can sit at the start or the end of the sentence:

Demain, je travaillerai. (Tomorrow, I will work.)
Je travaillerai demain. (I will work tomorrow.)

Negatives wrap around the single verb. Because the future simple is one word (not a two-part compound tense), ne … pas goes either side of it:

Je ne sortirai pas ce soir. (I will not go out tonight.)
Nous n'irons pas. (We will not go.) — note the elision ne → n' before the vowel.

Questions can use inversion or est-ce que:

Iras-tu en ville ? (Will you go into town?)
Est-ce que tu iras en ville ? (Will you go into town?)

Worked mini-example. Make this negative and future: "We will not eat at the restaurant tonight." Verb manger (to eat) → nous mangerons; wrap ne … pas; add ce soir: Nous ne mangerons pas au restaurant ce soir.

Common signposts: demain (tomorrow), bientôt (soon), l'année prochaine (next year), un jour (one day).
Time phrases can go at the start or end of the sentence.
Negation wraps the single verb: je ne sortirai pas (I won't go out).
Remember elision: ne → n' before a vowel (nous n'irons pas).
Questions: inversion (iras-tu ?) or est-ce que tu iras ?.

Future simple vs near future (futur proche)

'will' (future simple) vs 'going to' (aller + infinitive) — both are correct, with a slight difference in feel.

French has two common ways to talk about the future, and beginners often muddle them. Both are correct, but they map onto different English structures.

Both sit in the future; the near future leans towards 'going to / soon', the future simple towards 'will / later'.

	Near future (futur proche)	Future simple (futur simple)
Built from	aller (present) + infinitive	infinitive stem + future endings
English	"going to + verb"	"will + verb"
Example	je vais manger (I'm going to eat)	je mangerai (I will eat)
Feel	nearer, planned, conversational	a bit more formal; predictions, distant plans

The near future is built with the present tense of aller (to go) plus an infinitive: je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont + infinitive.

Je vais regarder un film. (I'm going to watch a film.)
Nous allons partir. (We are going to leave.)

For Standard level 0520, you should be able to use both. In writing, showing you can handle the future simple (a single conjugated word) demonstrates a wider tense range and helps you reach the higher mark bands. In casual speech, the near future is extremely common and perfectly correct.

Worked mini-example. Say the same idea two ways: "I am going to study" / "I will study" (verb étudier). Near future: Je vais étudier. Future simple: J'étudierai. (zhay-tew-dee-uh-RAY) — note the elision je → j' before the vowel.

Near future: aller (present) + infinitive = 'going to' (je vais manger).
Future simple: infinitive stem + endings = 'will' (je mangerai).
Both are correct; the future simple feels slightly more formal / for predictions and distant plans.
Showing the future simple in writing demonstrates tense range and earns higher bands.
Remember elision: je → j' before a vowel (j'étudierai).

How it’s examined

The future simple is a core part of the grammar range examiners reward in Cambridge IGCSE French 0520.

Paper 1 (Listening): You must recognise future forms by ear, especially the audible -r before the ending. Examiners exploit the near-pair between the future (je verrai — I will see, closed 'ay') and the conditional (je verrais — I would see, open 'eh'); mishearing flips past-vs-future understanding.
Paper 2 (Reading): Texts use the future for plans, predictions and advertisements ('you will discover…'). Spotting the future stem + ending lets you place events in time and answer comprehension questions correctly.
Paper 3 (Speaking): In the conversation, you are expected to talk about future plans ('What will you do next year?'). Using j'irai, je ferai, j'étudierai with correct stems shows tense range and lifts the language mark beyond the present tense.
Paper 4 (Writing): Producing accurate future-tense verbs — correct endings, correct irregular stems, present (not future) after si — is exactly what the higher mark bands credit. A piece that mixes present, past and future tenses accurately scores far above one stuck in the present.

Examiner reports repeatedly note that candidates who vary their tenses (including a confident future) reach the top bands, while weaker scripts overuse the present or muddle the irregular stems (j'allerai✗ for j'irai✓, je faisrai✗ for je ferai✓).

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 Syllabus 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Paper 3 (Speaking) & Paper 4 (Writing) Specimen 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports 2022-2024. Last reviewed 2026-06-02.

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Worked examples, formulae, definitions and the mistakes examiners flag — everything you need to push from a pass to an A*.

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Step-by-step worked examples — Future simple tense

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on future simple tense, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Form the future simple of a regular -er verb
Getting started
Question
Put parler (to speak) into the future simple for je, nous and ils, and translate each. (Hint: -er verbs keep the whole infinitive as the stem.)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Find the stem. For an -er verb the stem is the whole infinitive: parler-. It already ends in -r, the signal of the future.
2. Step 2
  Add the endings -ai (je), -ons (nous), -ont (ils): parler + -ai / -ons / -ont.
3. Step 3
  Read them off: je parlerai, nous parlerons, ils parleront. Note the silent letters: -ont is a nasal 'on'.
Answer
je parlerai (I will speak), nous parlerons (we will speak), ils parleront (they will speak).
Examiner tip
The endings are the same for every verb in the future, so master them once here. A common slip is dropping the -e of -er verbs (parlrai✗); for -er and -ir verbs you keep the whole infinitive — only -re verbs drop the final -e.
2Form the future of a regular -re verb
Building confidence
Question
Put vendre (to sell) and attendre (to wait) into the future for tu and vous, and translate. (Hint: -re verbs need one extra step.)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Drop the final -e to make the stem: vendre → vendr-, attendre → attendr-. This is the only thing that makes -re verbs different.
2. Step 2
  Add the endings -as (tu) and -ez (vous): vendr- + -as / -ez; attendr- + -as / -ez.
3. Step 3
  Result: tu vendras, vous vendrez; tu attendras, vous attendrez. The final -s of -as is silent, so vendras sounds 'von-DRA'.
Answer
tu vendras (you will sell), vous vendrez (you will sell); tu attendras (you will wait), vous attendrez (you will wait).
Examiner tip
Forgetting to drop the -e (vendreras✗) is the classic -re error. The stem must end in -r directly: vendr-, attendr-, prendr- (from prendre, to take).
3Use the irregular future stems (être, avoir, aller, faire)
Building confidence
Question
Translate into French using the future simple: (a) I will be happy. (b) We will have time. (c) She will go to Paris. (d) They will do their homework.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  (a) être → ser-. je serai + content (happy, masculine): Je serai content. Don't start from être — use the stem ser-.
2. Step 2
  (b) avoir → aur-. nous aurons + du temps (time): Nous aurons du temps.
3. Step 3
  (c) aller → ir-. elle ira + à Paris: Elle ira à Paris. (Beware the trap allera✗ — the stem is just ir-.)
4. Step 4
  (d) faire → fer-. ils feront + leurs devoirs (their homework): Ils feront leurs devoirs.
Answer
(a) Je serai content. (b) Nous aurons du temps. (c) Elle ira à Paris. (d) Ils feront leurs devoirs.
Examiner tip
These four verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire) are the most frequently tested irregular futures. Only the stem changes; the endings are normal. Examiner reports flag j'allerai✗ (for j'irai✓) and je faisrai✗ (for je ferai✓) as recurring errors.
4Choose the right tense after si and quand
Stretch
Question
Complete with the correct tenses: (a) Si it rains tomorrow, I will stay home. (b) Quand I am older, I will travel. Translate fully.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  After si (if): use the present, not the future. S'il pleut (if it rains — present pleut), then the future in the result clause: je resterai (I will stay).
2. Step 2
  (a) Put it together: S'il pleut demain, je resterai à la maison. Note the elision si → s' before il.
3. Step 3
  After quand (when): French uses the FUTURE where English uses the present. English 'When I am older' → French Quand je serai plus âgé (être → ser-).
4. Step 4
  (b) Put it together: Quand je serai plus âgé, je voyagerai. Both verbs are future (serai, voyagerai).
Answer
(a) S'il pleut demain, je resterai à la maison. (si + present, then future). (b) Quand je serai plus âgé, je voyagerai. (quand + future, future).
Examiner tip
This is a top discriminator at Standard level. The rule: si → present (never future), but quand / lorsque / dès que → future in French even though English uses the present. Getting both right shows genuine control and reaches the higher accuracy bands in Paper 4.

Model Answers — Future simple tense

High-scoring sample answers for future simple tense on the Cambridge IGCSE 0520 paper, with examiner-style notes mapping each response to the mark scheme and assessment objectives.

Question 1
Paper 3 (Speaking) / Paper 4 (Writing) style. Que feras-tu l'année prochaine ? (What will you do next year?) Give a short model answer using several future-simple verbs.
Model answer
L'année prochaine, je continuerai mes études. (Next year, I will continue my studies.) Je travaillerai dur et je passerai mes examens. (I will work hard and I will sit my exams.) Après, j'irai à l'université et j'étudierai les langues. (Afterwards, I will go to university and I will study languages.) Un jour, je serai professeur. (One day, I will be a teacher.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It strings together regular futures (continuerai, travaillerai, passerai, étudierai) with two irregular stems used correctly — j'irai (aller → ir-) and je serai (être → ser-). The time markers (l'année prochaine, un jour) signpost the tense clearly. This range of future verbs lifts the language mark well above an answer stuck in the present.
Question 2
Paper 4 (Writing) style. Write two sentences predicting the weather and your weekend, using the future simple.
Model answer
Demain, il fera beau et il y aura du soleil. (Tomorrow, it will be nice and there will be sun.) Donc, ce week-end, nous irons à la plage et nous ferons un pique-nique. (So, this weekend, we will go to the beach and we will have a picnic.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It uses three irregular futures accurately — il fera (faire → fer-), il y aura (avoir → aur-) and nous irons / nous ferons. The weather-prediction context is exactly where the future simple is natural. Note il y aura = 'there will be', a high-value phrase worth memorising.
Question 3
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. A friend is worried about an exam. Reassure them with a short future-tense promise.
Model answer
Ne t'inquiète pas ! (Don't worry!) Je t'aiderai à réviser et nous travaillerons ensemble. (I will help you revise and we will work together.) Tu réussiras, j'en suis sûr(e). (You will succeed, I'm sure of it.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. Promises are a natural home for the future simple. The verbs are correct regular futures — j'aiderai (aider), nous travaillerons (travailler), tu réussiras (réussir, an -ir verb keeping the whole infinitive). Using tu fits a friend, and the reassuring tone shows good communicative control.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Future simple tense

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for future simple tense answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0520 sitting.

Le futur simple
Examiner keyword
The future simple tense — the French equivalent of English 'will + verb'. Built from the infinitive stem plus a fixed set of endings.
Example
je mangerai (I will eat); nous irons (we will go).
-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
Examiner keyword
The six future-simple endings, the same for every verb (je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles). Only the stem changes between verbs.
Example
parlerai, parleras, parlera, parlerons, parlerez, parleront.
Future stem (le radical)
Examiner keyword
The part the endings attach to. For -er and -ir verbs it is the whole infinitive; for -re verbs you drop the final -e. Every future stem ends in -r.
Example
parler- (parler), finir- (finir), vendr- (vendre).
être → ser-
Examiner keyword
The irregular future stem of être (to be). Add the normal endings: je serai, tu seras, il sera, nous serons, vous serez, ils seront.
Example
Je serai en France. (I will be in France.)
avoir → aur-
Examiner keyword
The irregular future stem of avoir (to have): j'aurai, tu auras, il aura, nous aurons, vous aurez, ils auront.
Example
J'aurai du temps. (I will have time.) Il y aura = there will be.
aller → ir-
Examiner keyword
The irregular future stem of aller (to go): j'irai, tu iras, il ira, nous irons, vous irez, ils iront. Never use aller-.
Example
Elle ira à Paris. (She will go to Paris.)
faire → fer-
Examiner keyword
The irregular future stem of faire (to do/make): je ferai, tu feras, il fera, nous ferons, vous ferez, ils feront.
Example
Je ferai mes devoirs. (I will do my homework.) Il fera beau = it will be nice (weather).
venir → viendr-, voir → verr-, pouvoir → pourr-
More high-frequency irregular future stems, all ending in -r. Also devoir → devr-, vouloir → voudr-, savoir → saur-, envoyer → enverr-.
Example
Je viendrai (I will come); je verrai (I will see); je pourrai (I will be able to).
Le futur proche
Examiner keyword
The near future: aller (in the present) + an infinitive, equivalent to English 'going to + verb'. A common alternative to the future simple.
Example
Je vais manger (I'm going to eat) vs je mangerai (I will eat).
si + present / quand + future
Examiner keyword
Tense rule: after si (if) French uses the present (never the future); after quand/lorsque/dès que (when/as soon as) French uses the future where English uses the present.
Example
S'il pleut, je resterai. (If it rains, I'll stay.) Quand je serai grand… (When I'm grown up…).

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Future simple tense

The traps other students keep falling into on future simple tense questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0520 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Not dropping the final -e on -re verbs (writing vendrerai or vendreai)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), verb accuracy
Why it happens
Learners apply the -er/-ir rule (keep the whole infinitive) to -re verbs by mistake.
How to avoid it
For -re verbs, drop the final -e first so the stem ends in -r: vendre → vendr- → je vendrai, prendre → prendr- → je prendrai. The stem must end in -r, never -re.
✕Using a regular stem for an irregular verb (j'allerai for j'irai, je faisrai for je ferai)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4
Why it happens
Beginners assume every verb keeps its infinitive, not realising a small group has special stems.
How to avoid it
Memorise the core irregular stems as a chant: être→ser-, avoir→aur-, aller→ir-, faire→fer-. Build from the stem, then add normal endings.
✕Using the future after si (writing si je serai instead of si je suis)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), conditional sentences
Why it happens
Learners copy the English structure 'if it WILL rain', which is itself wrong in careful English too.
How to avoid it
After si (if), use the present; put the future only in the result clause: Si j'ai le temps, je viendrai. (If I have time, I will come.)
✕Using the present after quand (writing quand je suis grand for a future idea)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)
Why it happens
English uses the present after 'when' ('When I am older'), so learners transfer that habit.
How to avoid it
After quand / lorsque / dès que, use the FUTURE in French: Quand je serai grand, je voyagerai. (When I'm older, I'll travel.)
✕Confusing the future and the conditional (je verrai 'I will see' vs je verrais 'I would see')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 1 (Listening) & Paper 4
Why it happens
The endings look and sound almost identical (-rai vs -rais), and both stems end in -r.
How to avoid it
Future endings = avoir present (ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont) and a closed 'ay' on -rai. Conditional endings = imperfect (-rais, -rais, -rait, -rions, -riez, -raient) with an open 'eh'. 'Will' = future; 'would' = conditional.
✕Staying in the present tense when the task asks about the future
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4, range of language
Why it happens
The present is safer and more familiar, so beginners avoid the future altogether.
How to avoid it
When you see a future time marker (demain, l'année prochaine, un jour) or a 'will' question, switch to the future simple — even one or two correct future verbs widen your tense range and raise the mark.

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Future simple tense

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Detailed Notes

The future simple tense (le futur simple) — Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 (2025-2027)

What you’ll learn

When to use the future simple — it means 'will'

How to form it — infinitive + one set of endings

The irregular stems you must memorise

Time markers and word order

Future simple vs near future (futur proche)

How it’s examined

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Step-by-step worked examples — Future simple tense

1Form the future simple of a regular -er verb

2Form the future of a regular -re verb

3Use the irregular future stems (être, avoir, aller, faire)

4Choose the right tense after si and quand

Model Answers — Future simple tense

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Key Definitions and Keywords — Future simple tense

Le futur simple

-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont

Future stem (le radical)

être → ser-

avoir → aur-

aller → ir-

faire → fer-

venir → viendr-, voir → verr-, pouvoir → pourr-

Le futur proche

si + present / quand + future

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Future simple tense

✕Not dropping the final -e on -re verbs (writing vendrerai or vendreai)

✕Using a regular stem for an irregular verb (j'allerai for j'irai, je faisrai for je ferai)

✕Using the future after si (writing si je serai instead of si je suis)

✕Using the present after quand (writing quand je suis grand for a future idea)

✕Confusing the future and the conditional (je verrai 'I will see' vs je verrais 'I would see')

✕Staying in the present tense when the task asks about the future

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