Kilo Lingo
French grammar Part of Chapter 30

CEFR B2

5 min read

Test yourself (16 questions)

Future Tense After quand in French: lorsque, dès que

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

English says when I arrive, I will call you, with a present for an arrival that has not happened. French puts the future where the event is, in both halves: , . - When I arrive, I will call you.

the future endingpresent: if, or a habitWhat do the colours mean?
ConjunctionExampleEnglish
, .When I arrive, I'll call you.
, .As soon as you're here, we'll start.
, .As long as it rains, I'll stay here.
(not a time word) , .If you have time, come.

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Tap the mistake (written French).

Every time conjunction that takes the indicative follows the same rule ( and take the subjunctive instead). The trap is , which looks like a neighbour and never takes a future.

Quand takes a future

the future endingWhat do the colours mean?

Inside a when clause English installs a present and lets the main verb carry the . French gives the clause its own tense: if the event is in the future, so is the verb.

English keeps a present; French puts the clause in the future
  • , -. - When you arrive, call me.
  • , . - When he is ready, we will go out.
  • . - I will phone you as soon as I get home.

The main clause can be a future, an imperative (-) or a : , . - When you arrive, I am going to show you something. Only the clause is fixed: in writing, or antérieur.

The time conjunctions

the future endingWhat do the colours mean?

Learn them as a set: each one, with a future event, takes a future verb.

ConjunctionEnglishExample
, when
as soon as
as soon as
once
as long as
while Lyon
after

is the more formal twin of , and of . By the rule, takes the indicative, so a future here (many speakers use a subjunctive after it, but exams and careful writing expect the indicative); its opposite takes the subjunctive.

When the present is right: si and habits

presentfutureWhat do the colours mean?

Two kinds of clause keep the present, and both look like clauses.

Si meaning if never takes a future. Same shape, same verb, two tenses, decided by the conjunction alone:

ConjunctionFrenchEnglish
, .When you arrive, we will leave together.
, .If you arrive on time, we will leave together.

The si clauses page has the full system. The that means whether is a different word and does take a future: . - I do not know whether she will come.

A habit takes the present after , in French as in English:

  • , . - When it rains, I stay at home. (whenever)
  • , . - When it rains, I will stay at home. (one coming shower)

If whenever fits the English, the present is right.

Which future: same moment, or over first

futur simple: same momentfutur antérieur: over firstWhat do the colours mean?

Once the clause takes a future, choose which one. Ask whether the first action must be over before the second starts.

  • tu arriveras + appelle-moi (one moment)

  • tu auras fini (over first)

  • on partira (then)

Timeline from past to future, with now marked.

ChoiceFrenchEnglish
same moment , -.When you arrive, call me.
over first , .When you have finished, we will leave.
sad as she goes , .When she leaves, I will be sad.
sad afterwards , .When she has gone, I will be sad.

English gives a clue: a present perfect (when you have finished) usually means the futur antérieur. Translate the , not the tense.

Words that lean one way

futur simple: same momentfutur antérieur: over firstWhat do the colours mean?

Some conjunctions push towards one future by their meaning; takes whichever the sense needs.

ConjunctionLeans toExample
over first , .
over first vendu , ...
over first , .
same moment , .

The glosses: As soon as you have finished, we will leave. Once we have sold the house... After you have finished, tidy everything away. As long as you are here, I will be happy.

takes the antérieur mainly in the negative, where it means until: , . - You are not going out until you have finished.

When the whole sentence is in the past

the tense as saidthe tense in the reportWhat do the colours mean?

The rule is really about putting the tense where the event is, so in a past story the clause takes the past the story needs:

  • , . - When he arrived, he called.
  • , Lyon. - When I was ten, we lived in Lyon.

Under a past reporting verb, the future in the clause becomes a conditional, as every future does in reported speech:

SpeechFrenchEnglish
direct , .When I arrive, I will call.
reported , .He said that when he arrived, he would call.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
(if) takes the present
takes
: agree with the subject

Do not overcorrect a habit: , . is right, and a future there changes the meaning.

What to do next

  1. Say three plans for tomorrow, each with and a .
  2. Add one with and a antérieur: , ...
  3. Then read the futur antérieur if the second future still feels new.

Practise: test yourself

Spot the mistake

0/3

Tap the mistake (written French).

Complete the story

0/4

Choose the right form for each gap (written French).

A trip to Paris

Demain, nous partons à Paris. Quand nous à la gare, je t'enverrai un message. Si le train du retard, nous prendrons un café. Dès que nous nos valises à l'hôtel, nous sortirons. Quand il beau, nous marchons toujours le long de la Seine.

Gap 1 of 4

Sort into groups

0/6

Which tense goes after the conjunction?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Pick the right one

0/3

Read the English, then choose the French that says it.

  1. When you have read the book, give it back to me.

  2. When she leaves, I will be sad. (sad as she goes)

  3. When she has gone, I will be sad. (sad afterwards, in the empty room)

Chapters 1 and 2 free

This article is one lesson in a whole course

Every grammar point has its own article and drill, and the course wraps them in graded stories, games and printable worksheets, in the order you need them.

Chapters 1 and 2 free, forever. Plus: 7 days free, then $5 a month for all eleven languages.

Start learning free

French · Free printables

Practice worksheets and infographics

Practice worksheets with answer keys built in, plus infographic and listicle formats. Open any one to view, print or save.

Free for members

The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.

Start your free week

More grammar on this course

Frequently asked questions

Why does French use the future after when English uses the present?
Because French gives the clause its own future tense. In when I arrive, I will call you both events are in the future, but English keeps a present in the when clause and lets the main verb carry the . French puts the future where the event is: , . Relaxed speech allows a present in both halves for an ( , ), but the English mix, a present after and a future in the main clause, is the classic error.
Which French conjunctions take the future?
The time conjunctions: and (when), and (as soon as), (once), and (as long as), (after) and (while). Each takes a or a antérieur when the event it introduces is in the future: , on . Conjunctions of reason or condition, such as and , do not.
How do I choose between and ?
Ask whether the first action must be over before the second starts. If the two sit at the same moment, use the : , (sad as she goes). If the first must be complete, use the antérieur: , on (nobody leaves before the end). , and lean towards the antérieur; , a state still running, leans towards the .
Does the same rule apply after ?
No. A that means if takes the present, never a future: as , me . So takes a future and does not, in sentences that otherwise look alike: , on , but , on . The that means whether is a different word and does take a future: .
What happens when the whole sentence is in the past?
The clause takes whatever past tense the story needs: , a . Under a past reporting verb the future in the clause becomes a conditional, like every other future: a , . And for a habit, a present after is right: , .