The futur antérieur
The futur antérieur (future perfect) describes an action that will take place
and be completed before another future action. To form this compound tense, use
the future tense of avoir or être + the past participle of the main verb. Agreement
rules are the same as for the passé composé. Although it is rarely used in English, it
must be used in French under certain circumstances.
écrire to write
j’aurai écrit I’ll have written
tu auras écrit you’ll have written
il/elle aura écrit he/she will have written
nous aurons écrit we’ll have written
vous aurez écrit you’ll have written
ils/elles auront écrit they’ll have written
devenir to become
je serai devenu(e) I’ll have become
tu seras devenu(e) you’ll have become
il/elle sera devenu(e) he’ll/she’ll have become
nous serons devenu(e)s we’ll have become
vous serez devenu(e)(s) you’ll have become
ils/elles seront devenu(e)s they’ll have become
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Nous aurons résolu tous les problèmes d’ici la fin de l’année.
We’ll have solved all the problems by the end of the year.
Il aura enseigné le français toute sa vie.
He’ll have taught French all his life.
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Sometimes you have a choice between the futur simple and the futur
antérieur. When both clauses use the futur simple, it is implied that both actions
take place simultaneously.
Elle vous téléphonera dès qu’elle finira son roman.
She’ll call you as soon as she finishes her novel.
If you want to mark an anteriority, use the futur antérieur.
Elle vous téléphonera dès qu’elle aura fini son roman.
She’ll call you as soon as she finishes (will have finished) her novel.
Dès que vous accepterez cette théorie, on en discutera plus longuement.
As soon as you accept this theory, we’ll discuss it at length.
Dès que vous aurez accepté cette théorie, on en discutera plus longuement.
As soon as you accept (will have accepted) this theory, we’ll discuss it at
length.
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The futur antérieur can also express the probability of a past action, in the
same way that the futur simple can be used to express probability in the present.
Elle aura encore échoué à ses examens!
She probably failed her exams again!
Il aura encore brûlé le gigot d’agneau!
He probably burnt the leg of lamb again!
Ils auront manqué leur train.
They probably missed their train.
Son fils aura encore fait des bêtises!
His son probably got in trouble again!
The futur antérieur is also used after si, implying a completed action. Si
means whether in this case.
Je me demande s’ils auront signé le contrat.
I wonder whether they’ll have signed the contract.
Je me demande si j’aurai tout réglé avant ce soir.
I am wondering whether I’ll have resolved everything by tonight.
Il se demande s’il aura terminé à temps.
He wonders whether he’ll have finished on time.
In French, the futur antérieur is never used after si implying a future
condition. Use the present instead.
S’il a le temps, il passera vous voir.
If he has time, he’ll stop by to see you.
Si vous pouvez, envoyez-moi votre CV avant lundi.
If you can, send me your résumé before Monday.
