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Using the Present Tense for the Future

FoundationHigherAQA

Understand Using the Present Tense for the Future for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). With a time phrase, the present tense can express a future action, as in je travaille ce soir.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

Foundation

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Higher

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Topic overview

French often uses the present tense where English would use a future form, and recognising this prevents mistranslation.

A present tense with a future time expression means a future action. Je pars demain means I am leaving tomorrow. Le train arrive à huit heures means the train arrives at eight — a scheduled future event expressed in the present.

The present is also used after si in a condition where English uses the present too, but the main clause takes the future: si tu viens, je serai content. And French has no continuous form — je mange covers I eat, I am eating and I do eat, so the correct English translation depends entirely on context.

Revision notes

Present with future meaning

Je pars demain — I am leaving tomorrow.

A present tense verb with a future time expression describes a future action. Le train arrive à huit heures describes a scheduled event. English does the same thing with I am leaving tomorrow.

After si

Si tu viens, je serai content — if you come, I will be happy.

The si clause takes the present; the main clause takes the future. Using the future after si is a common error and is always wrong.

No continuous form

French has no equivalent of the English -ing continuous tense.

Je mange covers I eat, I am eating and I do eat. To stress an action in progress, French uses être en train de: je suis en train de manger.

Key points

  • The present can express a future action.
  • A future time expression signals this.
  • Je pars demain means I am leaving tomorrow.
  • Si takes the present, not the future.
  • French has no continuous tense.
  • Je mange covers three English forms.

Worked examples

Example 1

Translate: I am leaving tomorrow. [2 marks]

Working

Je pars demainuse the present tense with the future time expression
The present tense expresses a future action when a time expression makes it clearexplain the structure

Example 2

Complete: Si tu ___ , je serai content. [2 marks]

Working

Si tu viens, je serai contentuse the present tense after si
The si clause takes the present even though the main clause is futureexplain the rule

Example 3

Give three possible English translations of je mange. [2 marks]

Working

I eat, I am eatinggive the first two
and I do eatgive the third

Common mistakes

  • Using the future after si.

    Si takes the present: si tu viens, not si tu viendras.

  • Trying to translate the continuous form.

    French has no -ing tense; the present covers it.

  • Missing a future time expression.

    It signals that the present has future meaning.

  • Overusing être en train de.

    It is for emphasis only, not every continuous form.

Exam tips

  • Look for future time expressions with the present.
  • Always use the present after si.
  • Remember one French present covers three English forms.
  • Use être en train de only for emphasis.

Key terms

Future time expression
A phrase such as demain, signalling future meaning.
Si clause
A condition clause taking the present tense.
Continuous form
The English -ing tense, which French lacks.
Être en train de
A structure emphasising an action in progress.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.