Usage note : will

The future tense

When will is used to express the future in French, the future tense of the French verb is generally used :

he’ll come

= il viendra

In spoken and more informal French or when the very near future is implied, the present tense of aller + infinitive can be used :

I’ll do it now

= je vais le faire tout de suite

If the subject of the modal auxiliary will is I or we, shall is sometimes used instead of will to talk about the future. For further information, consult the entry shall in the dictionary.

Note that would and should are treated as separate entries in the dictionary.

Tag questions

French has no direct equivalent of tag questions like won’t he? or will they? There is a general tag question n’est-ce pas? which will work in many cases :

you’ll do it tomorrow, won’t you?

= tu le feras demain, n’est-ce pas?

In cases where an opinion is being sought, non? meaning is that not so? can be useful :

that will be easier, won’t it?

= ce sera plus facile, non?

In many other cases the tag question is simply not translated at all and the speaker’s intonation will convey the implied question.

Short answers

Again, there is no direct equivalent for short answers like no she won’t, yes they will etc. Where the answer yes is given to contradict a negative question or statement, the most useful translation is si :

‘they won’t forget’ ‘yes they will’

= ‘ils n’oublieront pas’ ‘si’ or (for more emphasis) bien sûr que si

Where the answer no is given to contradict a positive question or statement, the most useful translation is bien sûr que non :

‘she’ll post the letter, won’t she?’ ‘no she won’t’

= ‘elle va poster la lettre?’ ‘bien sûr que non’

In reply to a standard enquiry the tag will not be translated :

‘you’ll be ready at midday then?’ ‘yes I will’

= ‘tu seras prêt à midi?’ ‘oui’

For more examples and other uses, see the entry will.

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.