Unlike the present tense, which has a different set of endings for each verb group, the futur simple uses one set of endings for every regular verb, -er, -ir, and -re alike. The stem is simply the infinitive.
1. The pattern: infinitive + endings
| parler → je parlerai | I will speak |
| finir → tu finiras | you will finish |
| choisir → elle choisira | she will choose |
2. -re verbs: drop the final e
For -re verbs, drop the final -e from the infinitive before adding the ending, so the stem still ends in -r.
| vendre → je vendrai | I will sell (not "vendreai") |
| attendre → nous attendrons | we will wait |
3. The endings: they're avoir in disguise
Handy mnemonic: the futur simple endings, -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont, are exactly the present-tense forms of avoir (ai, as, a, (av)ons, (av)ez, ont). If you know avoir, you already know the endings.
4. Futur proche vs. futur simple
You've already met the futur proche (aller + infinitive) in our aller & venir lesson, it's used for something about to happen. The futur simple covers the same ground but reaches further out, and is the standard choice in writing and formal speech.
| Je vais manger. | I'm going to eat. (futur proche, very soon) |
| Je mangerai plus tard. | I'll eat later. (futur simple) |
5. Conjugation: present tense (model: parler)
| je parlerai | I will speak |
| tu parleras | you will speak |
| il / elle / on parlera | he / she / one will speak |
| nous parlerons | we will speak |
| vous parlerez | you will speak |
| ils / elles parleront | they will speak |