Futur simple: -enir, -oir, -re drop, double -rr families

The Futur Simple — Mastering the 4 Irregular Patterns

The good news about the Futur Simple? The endings are always the same: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont. The only "trick" is knowing how the radical (the base of the verb) transforms.

Here are the 4 main models to master.

Model 1: The -ENIR Transformation (-iendr-)

This is one of the most "profitable" models because entire families of verbs follow it.

• Specificity: The ending -enir turns into a strong -iendr- radical.
• Useful verbs: venir (to come), tenir (to hold), devenir (to become), revenir (to come back), retenir (to retain).

Conjugation of VENIR (Radical: viendr-)

Model 2: The -OIR Contraction (Simplified Radical)

These high-frequency verbs simplify their spelling to create a short, "punchy" radical ending in -r or -dr.

• Specificity: The middle vowels are swallowed to favor a contracted radical.
• Useful verbs: pouvoir (pourr-), vouloir (voudr-), devoir (devr-), voir (verr-), savoir (saur-).

Conjugation of VOULOIR (Radical: voudr-)

Model 3: The -RE Drop (Losing the "e")

This model is almost regular; you just need to prevent a "vowel collision."

• Specificity: You simply drop the final -e of the infinitive before adding your endings.
• Useful verbs: vendre (vendr-), attendre (attendr-), prendre (prendr-), boire (boir-), lire (lir-).

Conjugation of VENDRE (Radical: vendr-)

Model 4: The Double "R" Sound (Phonetic Reinforcement)

For these verbs, the radical stays close to the infinitive but doubles the "r" to maintain a strong, vibrating sound.

• Specificity: The radical takes a double -rr which is clearly audible in spoken French.
• Useful verbs: courir (courr-), mourir (mourr-), envoyer (enverr-), acquérir (acquerr-).

Conjugation of COURIR (Radical: courr-)