Aller + Infinitive (Near Future)

This structure works exactly like the English "going to." In English, you say "I am going to eat." In French, you do the same thing. You take the verb aller (to go) and pair it with another verb. The second verb stays in its "raw" or infinitive form. It’s like a train. The first verb is the engine that does all the work. The second verb is just the passenger along for the ride. You only change the engine. The passenger never changes. This makes it incredibly efficient. You only need to master one verb conjugation to unlock the entire future. It’s like having a universal remote for your French sentences. Yes, even native speakers rely on this constantly because it feels more natural in casual settings than the more formal future tense.

1. 1Building a Near Future sentence is a simple three-step process. Think of it like a grammar traffic light.
2. 2Pick your subject (the person doing the action).
3. 3Conjugate the verb aller in the present tense.
4. 4Add the infinitive of the action you want to describe.
5. 5Here is a quick refresher on aller:
6. 6Je vais (I am going)
7. 7Tu vas (You are going)
8. 8Il/Elle/On va (He/She/One is going)
9. 9Nous allons (We are going)
10. 10Vous allez (You are going)
11. 11Ils/Elles vont (They are going)
12. 12Now, just drop any infinitive after it.
13. 13Je vais manger (I am going to eat).
14. 14Nous allons partir (We are going to leave).
15. 15It’s that simple. No fancy endings required.

You use the Near Future for things that are about to happen. If it’s happening in five minutes, use this. If it’s happening tonight, use this. It’s also perfect for intentions. If you have decided to do something, even if it’s next year, the Near Future works.

• Immediate actions: "I’m going to grab my keys."
• Definite plans: "We are going to visit Marseille this summer."
• Changes in weather: "It’s going to rain."
• Predictions based on evidence: "Watch out, you’re going to fall!"

In a restaurant, you might say Je vais prendre un café (I’ll have a coffee). It sounds certain and polite. In a job interview, you might say Je vais aider l'entreprise (I am going to help the company). It shows confidence and intent.

Avoid this for the "vague" future. If you are talking about something that might happen in twenty years, the Futur Simple is usually better. Don't use it for formal writing like legal contracts or epic poetry. If there is no sense of "going to," it might feel out of place.

Also, don't use it if you are describing a habitual action. If you eat bread every day, just use the present tense. This rule is for specific events that are coming up soon. It’s about movement toward a goal. If there’s no goal and no movement, stick to the present. Think of it like a calendar entry. If you wouldn't put it on a specific day, you might not need the Near Future.

The biggest mistake learners make is adding extra words. In English, we say "going to eat." French learners often try to add à or pour between the verbs.

• ✗ Je vais à manger (Wrong!)
• ✓ Je vais manger (Correct!)

Another trap is forgetting the conjugation of aller. If you say Je aller manger, you sound like a robot. Make sure that first verb is conjugated correctly.

• ✗ Tu vais partir (Wrong!)
• ✓ Tu vas partir (Correct!)

Finally, be careful with negation. The ne... pas goes around the conjugated verb, not the infinitive.

• ✗ Je vais ne pas manger (Sounds weird!)
• ✓ Je ne vais pas manger (Perfect!)

People often confuse this with the present tense.

• Je mange = I eat / I am eating (Happening now).
• Je vais manger = I am going to eat (Happening soon).

There is also the Futur Simple (Je mangerai). This is more formal. It’s like the difference between "I'm gonna eat" and "I shall eat." The Near Future is warm and conversational. The Futur Simple is precise and often distant. If you’re chatting with a friend at a café, 99% of the time, the Near Future is your winner. It’s the difference between a casual text and a formal letter. Stick to the Near Future for now to build your confidence.