The simple future and the present conditional

[jrineakter]

In French , the simple future and the present conditional are often confusing. How do you know whether to use " ai " or " ais "? It's not always easy to figure out. In fact, French speakers themselves sometimes make this conjugation mistake . In this article, you'll discover the major differences between the future and the conditional . You'll also learn when to use these verb tenses . Little bonus: I've offered you a quiz at the end!

How to recognize the simple future and the present conditional?
The simple future indicative and the present conditional have the same common base, but are distinguished by their endings .

Here is a summary table to understand the differences between these two conjugation tenses:


To avoid confusing them, remember that in writing, we add an " s " to the present conditional. In speaking, the sounds are similar. In the future, " ai " is pronounced " é " and in singapore whatsapp number data the conditional, " ais " is pronounced " è ".

Congratulations! You now know how to distinguish the simple future from the present conditional. All you need to do now is learn the different uses of each tense to know how to use them at the right time.

When to use the simple future in French?
In French, there are 3 main uses of the simple future tense.

First, let's start with the most obvious. As its name suggests, the simple future tense is used to express a future action or project , an event that has not yet happened :

Emma will celebrate her birthday this Sunday.
My cousin will be going to Taiwan in January.
Second use: the simple future can be used to express an order in the future :

Children, when everyone arrives, you will not shout, you will not run, you will not argue. You will behave yourself, is that understood?
With “si + present”, the simple future expresses a hypothesis or a supposition .

If Agnes doesn't come tonight, Daniel will be furious.
= In this sentence, I make an assumption about the person's reaction.

Read also: simple future or near future?

When to use the present conditional?
In French, we distinguish 4 uses for the present conditional.

With “si + imperfect”, the present conditional expresses a hypothesis:

If Robert were rich, he would offer a villa to his parents.
= Robert is not actually rich. We hypothesize what he would do if he were.

You may have noticed, but with "if", the simple future and the present conditional both express a hypothesis. How can we distinguish them? Don't worry, I'll explain the difference a little later.

The conditional can also express a wish :

I would like to live in France!
He would like to be happy.
It sometimes translates a form of politeness when asking a favor, giving advice or making a reproach:

Could you tell me the way to Gare du Nord? (favor)
You should go to sleep earlier. (advice)
You could be nicer to him! (reproach)
Finally, the present conditional is used to communicate <>information that one is not sure of.

According to journalists, the accident occurred due to a lack of organization.
According to my friends, the presentation went well.
In these sentences, I am not sure that the facts are true.

If + future or conditional?
if with future or conditional

A sentence with an "if" expresses a supposition, a possibility or a hypothesis. The future and the conditional are used in this type of sentence. The difference lies in the probability of the facts .

If the hypothesis is feasible , we use the simple future:

If you study, you will pass the exam.
= if you study, it is certain that you will pass the exam. Events can happen.

If the hypothesis is not feasible , we use the conditional:

If I were you, I would leave my husband.
= In this case, the events ("leaving my husband") could never happen. It is impossible since "I" am not "you".

If he were nice, he would give up his seat.
= In reality, he is not nice. So it is unlikely that "he will give up his place".

Here are the uses of the future indicative and the present conditional. To check that you have understood the use of these tenses, we will compare a few sentences and see what they express.

Examples of use in the French language
The exercise is simple. I will propose 2 identical sentences, one in the future and one in the conditional, and I will explain to you which one is correct.

First example:

I would like to know what time the restaurant closes.
I would like to know what time the restaurant closes.
So what is the correct answer? The 2nd sentence. Why? Here, we use the polite conditional. We ask the interlocutor in a polite way. If you put the sentence in the future tense, it gives the impression that you want to know the restaurant's opening hours, not now, but later. The sentence therefore does not make sense.

Did you find the right answer? The first sentence is correct. The first verb (arrive) expresses a future event, while the second verb (“crier”) expresses an order. Here, the conditional sentence would not make sense since the events will come true. It is certain that Anthony will arrive.