Here is a sentence in English using 'when' to express an action that will have been completed in the future before another action:
When I have finished my work, I will watch TV.
When I finish my work, I will watch TV.
Notice how the verb after 'when' is in the Present Perfect or Present tense.
Now look at these sentences using "quand" in a similar context:
Notice how in French you use the le Futur Antérieur after quand in order to show that this action will come before the other one.
Note that this rule also applies to the conjunctions lorsque (when), après que (after) and une fois que (once):
Lorsque j'aurai fini mon travail, je regarderai la télé.When I have finished my work, I'll watch TV.
See also previous lesson Using Le Futur after "quand" and "pendant que" instead of Le Présent
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Une fois qu'elle sera arrivée chez nous, la fête commencera.Once she arrives at our place, the party will start.
Nous irons au cinéma quand nous aurons rangé notre chambre.We'll go to the cinema when we have tidied our room.
Lorsque j'aurai fini mon travail, je regarderai la télé.When I have finished my work, I'll watch TV.
Q&A Forum 12 questions, 26 answers
StephenKwiziq community member
Why "vous aurez" and Not "tu auras".
________ ta chambre, nous irons au cinéma.When you've tidied up your room, we'll go to the cinema.I answered "Quand vous aurez rangé" and the correct answer given was "Quand tu auras rangé" . There is no indication in the question to the use of singular or plural ! In fact the use of "nous" indicates to the use of "formal".
Asked 3 weeks ago
Stephen asked:View original
Why "vous aurez" and Not "tu auras".
________ ta chambre, nous irons au cinéma.When you've tidied up your room, we'll go to the cinema.I answered "Quand vous aurez rangé" and the correct answer given was "Quand tu auras rangé" . There is no indication in the question to the use of singular or plural ! In fact the use of "nous" indicates to the use of "formal".
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JanetKwiziq community member
examples don't cover what test did
none of the lesson examples gave info about aura (verb). I got the when/after part right which was in the lesson but something else caused me to get these wrong. I feel ripped and wronged. this was an unfair lesson.
Asked 1 month ago
Janet asked:View original
examples don't cover what test did
none of the lesson examples gave info about aura (verb). I got the when/after part right which was in the lesson but something else caused me to get these wrong. I feel ripped and wronged. this was an unfair lesson.
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WilliamKwiziq community member
Whe to use FA versus the Future with quand, lorsque, etc.
When they arrive, you will welcome them.
One follows the other, why doesn't this use the FA?
The answer says that it used the Future. Thx -- Bill --
Asked 1 year ago
Kwiziq community memberCorrect answer
I think it's because you are talking about their arrival in the future sense, not something that has (theoretically) already happened in the future. To use FA, the sentence would have to be: "When they have arrive/once they have arrived ...".
William asked:View original
Whe to use FA versus the Future with quand, lorsque, etc.
When they arrive, you will welcome them.
One follows the other, why doesn't this use the FA?
The answer says that it used the Future. Thx -- Bill --
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JeanKwiziq community member
Hi, help with quand v lorsque
Can you please help? I have just had « Je rentrerai lorsque il sera parti » marked as incorrect. The correct answer being « Je rentrerai quand il sera parti ». I had thought that quand and lorsque were interchangeable in this sense. Would appreciate some help.
Asked 2 years ago
In this instance, quand and lorsque will both be correct. However, I think lorsque + il requires an obligatory elison to lorsqu'il and makes it slightly less accurate.
Rans (non-native learner)
Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I believe you are correct. I have only ever known those two words to be interchangeable.
Jean asked:View original
Hi, help with quand v lorsque
Can you please help? I have just had « Je rentrerai lorsque il sera parti » marked as incorrect. The correct answer being « Je rentrerai quand il sera parti ». I had thought that quand and lorsque were interchangeable in this sense. Would appreciate some help.
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Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Après que + le futur antérieur or après que + l'indicatif
How does one differentiate when to use each structure? I have reread each lesson and the thoughts are unclear.
Merci en avance.
Asked 2 years ago
Hi Ron,
Sorry about the delay in answering your question.
Le Futur antérieur is an indicative tense.
In those examples you have to use it as you are talking about two actions in the future .
After/once you have done this, you will do that.
One action precedes the other and takes the 'futur antérieur'.
In French ( unlike English) words like 'quand', 'lorsque' are followed by a future tense.
Hope this helps!
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
You use the future tense when to events happen in the future, regardless of their durations. For example: "Quand je serai vieux je vivrai à la campagne." Now let's make this into a bit contrived example using le futur antérieur: "Quand j'aurai vieilli, je vivrai à la campagne."
The first example concerns two points in time: being old and living in the countryside. The second example is different: "when I will have aged" refers to the end of a process. Hence the futur antérieur.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
By the way, the example given in the lesson "When I have finished my work I will watch TV". This is, in fact, improper English since in English as well one would need to use the future perfect tense: "When I'll have finished my work I'll watch TV".
-- Chris.
SherryKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Chris, it is proper English, at least in the U.S. I've never heard a native speaker say "when I'll have finished my work ...".
Ron asked:View original
Après que + le futur antérieur or après que + l'indicatif
How does one differentiate when to use each structure? I have reread each lesson and the thoughts are unclear.
Merci en avance.
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MaxKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Overuse of le futur antérieur
I don't see any reason to strain for the futur antérieur when there is no change in subject. It sounds unnatural. Maybe I talk with the wrong French people.
Asked 2 years ago
GruffKwiziq team member
Hi Max, I'm not sure I understood what you mean. Do you have an example of what you might say instead?
Max asked:View original
Overuse of le futur antérieur
I don't see any reason to strain for the futur antérieur when there is no change in subject. It sounds unnatural. Maybe I talk with the wrong French people.
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SusanKwiziq community member
Is the Present Perfect the same as the Futur Antérieur?
Asked 2 years ago
Hi Susan,
I believe the Present Perfect is the Passé composé in French ...
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Susan,
Aurélie addresses this in the opening statement on the lesson:
«Here is a sentence in English using 'when' to express an action that will have been completed in the future before another action:
When I have finished my work, I will watch TV.
When I finish my work, I will watch TV.
Notice how the verb after 'when' is in the Present Perfect or Present tense.»
I hope you find this useful.
bonne chance
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour,
From the Education First website, we have this definition of the Present Perfect tense:
"DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself."
Here is an explanation of the uses of the Present Perfect tense:
"THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE
An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal several times.
An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my work.
An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important)
Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past. Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses."
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I, myself, had to reread this to refresh the present perfect.
Here is the page link for this site:
http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/present-perfect/
And here are a couple more links that address this English tense:
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_perfect
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect.htm
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/present%20perfect
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple
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Hopefully, by reviewing these links, you will grasp a better understanding of this verb tense.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français.
SusanKwiziq community member
It appears that the Present Perfect is a term for English grammar. What is the french equivalent?
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
I think we have come full circle:
Notice how the verb after 'when' is in the Present Perfect or Present tense.
Quand j'aurai fini mon travail, je regarderai la télé.
When I have finished my work, I'll watch TV.
Nous irons au cinéma quand nous aurons rangé notre chambre.
We'll go to the cinema when we have tidied our room.
Quand elle sera arrivée chez nous, la fête commencera.
When she's arrived at our place, the party will start.
Notice how in French you use the le Futur Antérieur after quand in order to show that this action will come before the other one.
The French equivalent is. . . . . . . le Futur Antérieur.
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Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Tu viendras me voir aprés avoir mangé ton dessert.
This is the quiz question it was applicable to: Tu viendras me voir ________ ton dessert. (You'll come and see me when you've eaten your dessert.) ->quand tu auras mangé
Aside from the fact that the response does not follow the sense of the lesson, does this not express the same thought: Tu viendras me voir après avoir mangé ton dessert.?
Aside from the fact that the response does not follow the sense of the lesson, does this not express the same thought: Tu viendras me voir après avoir mangé ton dessert.?
Asked 2 years ago
Bonjour Ron !
Tu viendras me voir quand tu auras mangé ton dessert.
Tu viendras me voir après avoir mangé ton dessert.
The meaning of these two sentences is indeed very close, just like it is in English:
You'll come and see me when you've eaten your dessert.
You'll come and see me after eating your dessert.
In our grammar exercises, we aim at testing specific structures, so we usually formulate our questions precisely as to specifically test what the lesson is about.
Though the meaning is close, these are two different sentences altogether :)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Tu viendras me voir quand tu auras mangé ton dessert.
Tu viendras me voir après avoir mangé ton dessert.
The meaning of these two sentences is indeed very close, just like it is in English:
You'll come and see me when you've eaten your dessert.
You'll come and see me after eating your dessert.
In our grammar exercises, we aim at testing specific structures, so we usually formulate our questions precisely as to specifically test what the lesson is about.
Though the meaning is close, these are two different sentences altogether :)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Ron asked:View original
Tu viendras me voir aprés avoir mangé ton dessert.
This is the quiz question it was applicable to: Tu viendras me voir ________ ton dessert. (You'll come and see me when you've eaten your dessert.) ->quand tu auras mangé
Aside from the fact that the response does not follow the sense of the lesson, does this not express the same thought: Tu viendras me voir après avoir mangé ton dessert.?
Aside from the fact that the response does not follow the sense of the lesson, does this not express the same thought: Tu viendras me voir après avoir mangé ton dessert.?
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AurélieKwiziq team member
Yellamaraju asked: "Is "les premiers au courant." an idiomatic expression." ?
What about "la première à le savoir"?
See = "Quand j'aurais pris une décision, vous serez les premiers au courant." (When I've made a decision, you'll be the first to know.)
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Yellamaraju !
Yes, it's an idiomatic way to say "to be aware of something / to know" = "être au courant".
You can also use "être le/la/les premier(s) à le savoir" which is literally "to be the first [one(s)] to know [it]".
This sentence could therefore have also been:
"Quand j'aurais pris une décision, vous serez les premiers à le savoir."
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Aurélie asked:View original
Yellamaraju asked: "Is "les premiers au courant." an idiomatic expression." ?
What about "la première à le savoir"?
See = "Quand j'aurais pris une décision, vous serez les premiers au courant." (When I've made a decision, you'll be the first to know.)
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Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
It's about le Futur and le Futur antérieur.
The English sentence is: "Marie will meet up with us when we leave the restaurant." In the answer you use le Futur antérieur: "...quand nous aurons quitté..." In English, this would, to me, rather be "...after having left...". Since here it is "...when leaving..." a more simulaneous connection is implied. Would it, hence, be ok to translate it as: 'Marie nous rejoindra quand nos quitterons le restaurant." Thanks, -- Chris.
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Chris !
Here we're describing two different situations :)
In your sentence "Marie nous rejoindra quand noUs quitterons le restaurant.", the two actions are indeed simultaneous: us leaving the restaurant and her meeting us happen at the same time.
However, in the French sentence "Marie nous rejoindra quand nous aurons quitté le restaurant.", the action of leaving the restaurant will happen BEFORE Marie is meeting us.
Here "quand" is used in a sense closer to "une fois que" (once).
I think the issue here is actually the EN translation which doesn't reflect this nuance.
A better translation would probably be "Marie will meet up with us when we've left the restaurant.".
Would you agree?
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Yes, I do understand the French side and would suggest a more precise English translation to remove ambiguity. --Chris.
Chris asked:View original
It's about le Futur and le Futur antérieur.
The English sentence is: "Marie will meet up with us when we leave the restaurant." In the answer you use le Futur antérieur: "...quand nous aurons quitté..." In English, this would, to me, rather be "...after having left...". Since here it is "...when leaving..." a more simulaneous connection is implied. Would it, hence, be ok to translate it as: 'Marie nous rejoindra quand nos quitterons le restaurant." Thanks, -- Chris.
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Ly fenKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Peut-on utiliser lorsque?
Peut-on utiliser lorsque comme "while" en anglais?
Exemple : Je fais la vaisseille lorsque tu arrives" en même temps dans les 2 phrases? merci d'avance.
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Ly !
"Lorsque" actually means the same as "quand" (when), so it's a bit different from "while". It doesn't mark simultaneity so much as something happening at one specific moment.
The best way to express simultaneity in this sentence would be as such:
"Je fais la vaisselle pendant que tu arrives." (I do the dishes while you're arriving.)
However, the use of "arriver" here feels a bit weird, as it is not an action that lasts as long as doing the dishes, so the simultaneity here feels a bit contrived.
Something like ""Je fais la vaisselle pendant que tu fais le lit." (I do the dishes while you're making the bed.) feels a bit more natural.
I hope that's helpful!
Ly fenKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thank you for your answer with explanation.
So to express simultaneity, we use "pendant" it's better than " lorsque " that is used as "quand", right?
Ly fenKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Okey, I understand now, thank you very much and have a nice day!
Ly fen asked:View original
Peut-on utiliser lorsque?
Peut-on utiliser lorsque comme "while" en anglais?
Exemple : Je fais la vaisseille lorsque tu arrives" en même temps dans les 2 phrases? merci d'avance.
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AlankritaKwiziq community member
Pendant Donne la duration de l'action.
Dans indiqué dans quel temps la action va commencer.
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