French Time Markers for the Future: demain, la semaine prochaine, bientôt
Learn to place future actions in time with French markers like demain, la semaine prochaine and bientôt, using the near future and simple future.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
To talk about the future in French, you often need two things: a future verb form and a time marker that says when. This lesson focuses on the time markers demain (tomorrow), la semaine prochaine (next week) and bientôt (soon). You will see how they combine with the near future (aller + infinitive), the most common spoken future, and with the simple future (je verrai), which is common in writing and formal speech. The goal is not to learn all future tenses, but to use these three markers accurately in short, natural sentences.
By the end, you can…
- say when a future action happens using demain, la semaine prochaine and bientôt.
- form short future sentences with aller + infinitive and recognize simple future forms.
- ask and answer simple questions about future plans using these time markers.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Je te vois demain.
I'll see you tomorrow.
zhuh tuh vwa duh-MAN
Very common spoken future using the present tense plus demain. The pronoun te becomes t' before a vowel sound in related phrases.
On se voit la semaine prochaine.
We'll see each other next week.
on suh vwa la suh-MEN pro-SHEN
On is extremely common in everyday French for 'we'. La semaine prochaine means next week and follows the noun.
Je vais t'appeler bientôt.
I'm going to call you soon.
zhuh vay ta-puh-LAY byan-TOH
Near future: aller + infinitive. Bientôt is flexible and can go at the end of the sentence.
Nous partirons la semaine prochaine.
We will leave next week.
noo par-tee-RON la suh-MEN pro-SHEN
Simple future, common in writing and formal speech. In everyday conversation, on va partir is more frequent.
À bientôt !
See you soon!
ah byan-TOH
A fixed farewell expression. Do not add a verb after it in this usage.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most common spoken future is aller + infinitive: je vais partir (I'm going to leave). Add a time marker to say when: Je vais partir demain. The simple future changes the verb ending instead: je partirai, tu partiras, il/elle partira, nous partirons, vous partirez, ils/elles partiront. Both patterns can take the same time markers: Je vais téléphoner demain and Je téléphonerai demain both mean 'I'll call tomorrow'. Choose aller + infinitive in conversation and simple future in writing or formal contexts.
When to use it
Use demain for the next day, la semaine prochaine for the following week, and bientôt for an unspecified near future. Demain and la semaine prochaine usually go at the beginning or end of a sentence: Demain, je travaille; Je travaille demain. Bientôt often goes at the end: Il arrive bientôt. Note that French uses the present tense for very near future events, especially with demain: Je te vois demain is more natural than a heavy future form in casual speech. In Quebec, the future is often expressed with aller + infinitive in speech, just as in France.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Tu es libre demain ?
Are you free tomorrow?too eh LEE-bruh duh-MANNon, demain je travaille. Mais je suis libre la semaine prochaine.
No, tomorrow I'm working. But I'm free next week.non, duh-MAN zhuh tra-VAI-yuh. meh zhuh swee LEE-bruh la suh-MEN pro-SHENParfait. On se voit la semaine prochaine ?
Perfect. Shall we see each other next week?par-FEH. on suh vwa la suh-MEN pro-SHENOui, je vais t'appeler bientôt pour fixer un jour.
Yes, I'm going to call you soon to set a day.wee, zhuh vay ta-puh-LAY byan-TOH poor feek-SAY un zhoorA little context goes a long way
In everyday French, the near future with aller + infinitive is far more common in speech than the simple future, even for events weeks away. The simple future appears often in writing, news and formal announcements. À bientôt is a standard farewell; à demain means 'see you tomorrow' and à la semaine prochaine means 'see you next week'. These expressions are fixed and do not need a verb.
One thing to watch for
Using dans with demain, as in dans demain.
Try this instead: Use demain alone: Je pars demain. Dans means 'in' with a duration from now, as in dans deux jours (in two days). For next week, use la semaine prochaine, not dans la semaine prochaine.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: I'm going to call you next week.
Show a sample answer
Je vais t'appeler la semaine prochaine.
Aller + infinitive expresses the near future, and la semaine prochaine is the correct time marker. Je t'appellerai la semaine prochaine is also correct in a more formal register.
2Which time marker means 'soon'?
Show a sample answer
bientôt
Bientôt means 'soon' and is often placed at the end of a sentence, as in Il arrive bientôt. It does not specify an exact time.
3Correct this sentence: Je vais partir dans demain.
Show a sample answer
Je vais partir demain.
Demain does not take dans. Dans is used with a duration, for example dans trois jours. Je partirai demain is also correct.
Use demain, la semaine prochaine and bientôt with aller + infinitive in conversation, and with the simple future in writing or formal speech. Keep the time marker simple: no dans before demain.
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