The future and conditional

1 Formation of the future

1.1 1st and 2nd group

For verbs of the 1st and 2nd group, the future tense is formed by taking the infinitiveThis is the basic form of a verb such as to have from which other forms are derived. as stem and adding the following endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.

1.2 1st and 2nd group exceptions

The following exceptions should be noted:

1.2.1 Se lever

Verbs which have a mute e in the penultimate syllable of the infinitive take an è before the mute syllable -er:

1.2.2 Céder etc.

Verbs which have an é in the penultimate syllable of the infinitive keep the é before the mute syllable -er:

Other verbs conjugating like céder include accélérer, adhérer, compléter, concéder, considérer, coopérer, espérer, exagérer, and gérer.

1.2.3 Jeter, s’appeler etc.

Most verbs ending in -eter or -eler double the consonant l or t before the mute syllable -er:

1.2.4 Acheter, geler etc.

A small number of verbs ending in -eter or -eler do not double the t or l before a mute syllable:

1.2.5 Vendre etc

For 3rd-group verbs ending in -re, the final -e of the stem is removed before adding the same endings:

Other verbs conjugating like vendre include apprendre, attendre, confondre, correspondre, descendre, défendre, dépendre, détendre, entendre, fendre, fondre, mordre, perdre, prétendre, rendre, répandre, répondre, tordre.

1.2.6 Wholly irregular verbs

The following 3rd-group verbs are wholly irregular :

2 Formation of the conditional

2.1 Regulars

The conditional is formed by taking the future stem and adding the following endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

2.2Semi-irregulars

Variations before the mute syllable -er in the future tense apply also to the conditional:

je me lèverai → je me lèverais

I will get up - I would get up

je jetterai → je jetterais

I will throw - I would throw

2.3Irregulars

Irregular 3rd-group verbs have the same stem in the conditional as they do in the future:

j'aurai → j'aurais

I will have - I would have

je courrai → je courrais

I will run - I would run

3 Use of future tenses

3.1 Situating action in the near or distant future

In order to differentiate the future tense described above from other forms of the future, it is also called the simple future. As in English, the simple future is used to situate an action or state in the near or distant future:

Vous recevrez votre commande demain

You will receive your order tomorrow

3.2 Sense of an imperative

As with English also, the simple future can have the sense of an imperative :

Demain tu m'aideras à descendre les valises

Tomorrow you will help me take down the suitcases

3.3 Quand, dès que and une fois que

It is also used after the conjunctions quand, dès que and une fois que when referring to future time where English would use the present tense:

Tu pourras apprendre à conduire quand tu auras dix-sept ans

You can learn to drive when you are seventeen

Je te téléphonerai dès que je serai à Manchester

I will phone you when I’m in Manchester

3.4 Immediate future

When situating an action or state in the near future, it is possible, as in English, to use aller plus the infinitive . This is called the immediate future:

Il vaut mieux prendre un parapluie - je pense qu'il va pleuvoir

You’d / we’d better take an umbrella – I think it’s going to rain

This form can also create a sense of certainty or emphasis whilst referring usually to the near future:

Je vais le lui dire demain, je vous assure

I will tell him tomorrow, I promise

3.5 Past future tenses

3.5.1 Future in the past

When referring to future events in reported speech , the future in the past is used. This is identical in form to the conditional :

Il a dit "Je lui écrirai dès que possible"

He said “I will write to him as soon as I can”

Il a dit qu'il lui écrirait dès que possible

He said that he would write to him as soon as he could

3.5.2 Future perfect

This is not to be confused with the future perfect, which is used to present an action or state as occuring prior to a (usually specified) time in the future. It is formed by taking the perfect tense and putting the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in the future:

Tu peux regarder la té1évision quand tu auras fini tes devoirs

You can watch television when you’ve finished your homework

Dans un an j'aurai fini mes études

In a year I will have finished my studies

4 Use of the conditional

The conditional is used in the following contexts:

4.1 Expressing wish, need

When expressing wish or need as a hypothesis:

Ce serait bien agréable d'aller à la plage aujourd'hui

It would be really nice to go to the beach today

4.2 Action subject to a condition

For expressing an action or state in the main clause of a sentence that is subject to a condition expressed in the subordinate clause (usually introduced by si):

Je viendrais avec vous si je n'étais pas si fatigué

I would come with you if I wasn’t so tired

4.3 "Softening" requests

For "softening" requests or suggestions to create a sense of politeness:

Pourriez-vous m'aider, je cherche l'Hotel de Ville?

Could you help me, I’m looking for the Town Hall

4.4 Expressing probability

Expressing a sense of probability where the indicative would imply greater certainty:

Je connais quelqu'un qui pourrait le réparer

I know someone who could fix it  [i.e. the person can probably fix it]

Je connais quelqu'un qui peut le réparer

I know someone who can fix it  [i.e. the person can definitely fix it]

4.5 Reporting information

For reporting information the truth of which is probable but unconfirmed:

Selon les premières indications il y aurait plusieurs blessés

According to first reports, there have been several people injured

4.6 Alternative to si

In a subordinate clause as an alternative to using the conjunction si to express a condition. In this case the subordinate clause must always precede the main clause :

Tu me 1'aurais dit plus tôt, je serais venu à la soirée

If you had told me earlier, I would have come to the party

It can also be used as an alternative to using même si to express a concession:

J'obtiendrais les notes requises que je n'irais pas dans cette université

Even if I got the right marks, I wouldn't go to that university

4.7 After au cas où

Au cas où le temps se refroidirait, je prendrai un pullover

I’ll take a jumper in case it gets colder

4.8 Expressing condition in the past

When expressing condition in the past, the conditional perfect is used. It is formed by taking the perfect tense and putting the auxiliary auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in the conditional:

Si tu me l'avais dit plus tôt, je serais venu à la soirée

If you had told me sooner, I would have come to the party

J'aurais voulu le lui dire moi-même

I would have liked to have told him myself

Vous auriez dû passer nous voir

You should have come to see us