quand + Future

Future Tense in a Future Time Clause

Level 3

English: When I arrive (present), I will call.
French: Quand j'arriverai (future), j'appellerai.

How It Works

In English, we often use the present tense after 'when' to talk about the future. However, in French, if the main clause is in the future or the imperative, the subordinate clause introduced by quand (when) or similar conjunctions must also use the futur simple.

This rule applies to several temporal conjunctions:

  • Quand / Lorsque (When)
  • Dès que / Aussitôt que (As soon as)
  • Après que (After)
  • Une fois que (Once)
  • Pendant que (While)
  • Tant que (As long as)

Example with imperative: Appelle-moi quand tu arriveras. (Call me when you [will] arrive.)

If the action in the 'when' clause must be finished before the main action starts, you use the futur antérieur (future perfect):
Quand j'aurai fini mes devoirs, je sortirai. (When I [will] have finished my homework, I will go out.)

Note: This rule only applies to specific future events. If you are talking about a habit or a general truth, you still use the present tense: Quand il pleut, je prends mon parapluie. (Whenever it rains, I take my umbrella.)

Examples (4)

  1. Quand tu seras grand, tu comprendras.

    When you are grown up, you will understand.

    Word by Word: When you will be big, you will understand.

    Even though English uses 'are' (present), French uses 'seras' (future) because the growing up hasn't happened yet.

  2. Appelle-moi dès que tu arriveras à la gare.

    Call me as soon as you arrive at the station.

    Word by Word: Call me as soon as you will arrive at the station.

    The imperative 'Appelle-moi' implies a future action, so 'dès que' triggers the future tense.

  3. Je t'aiderai une fois que j'aurai terminé ce travail.

    I will help you once I have finished this work.

    Word by Word: I will help you one time that I will have finished this work.

    This uses the futur antérieur (aurai terminé) to show the work must be completed before the help begins.

  4. Tant qu'il fera beau, nous resterons dehors.

    As long as the weather is nice, we will stay outside.

    Word by Word: As long as it will make beautiful, we will stay outside.

    The condition of the weather is projected into the future, requiring 'fera' instead of 'fait'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense after 'quand' for future events.

    Quand je suis à Paris l'année prochaine, je verrai la Tour Eiffel.
    Quand je serai à Paris l'année prochaine, je verrai la Tour Eiffel.

    English speakers often translate 'When I am' literally as 'Quand je suis', but French requires the future 'serai' for future plans.

  • Confusing 'quand' with 'si' (if).

    Si tu seras libre demain, on ira au ciné.
    Si tu es libre demain, on ira au ciné.

    While 'quand' requires the future, 'si' (if) follows a different rule and almost never takes the future tense for real conditions.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

quand + FutureLevel 3Future Tense in a Future Time Clause

Learn This First

To learn the 'quand + futur' pattern, you first need to be comfortable forming the future tense (both regular and irregular) because, unlike English, French requires the future tense in both the main and subordinate clauses when referring to future events. You also need to be familiar with 'quand' as a marker of time.

Words in This Pattern

quand