French grammar: verbe aller

What this grammar point covers

The verb 'aller' means 'to go' in French. It is an important verb used to talk about going somewhere or moving. 'Aller' is also used to form the near future (what you are going to do).

When to use it

Use 'aller' to say that someone is going to a place. It is also used with another verb to talk about something that will happen soon (near future).

Key forms

• je vais
• tu vas
• il/elle/on va
• nous allons
• vous allez
• ils/elles vont

Examples

Tips

• Remember that 'aller' is irregular. The forms are not regular like most -er verbs.
• Use 'à' (to) with places. For example: 'à l'école', 'au cinéma'.
• Be careful with pronunciation: 'vais' (je), 'vas' (tu), and 'va' (il/elle/on) all sound similar.

Exceptions and edge cases

• 'Aller' does not follow the regular -er verb pattern.
• The verb 'aller' is used with 'être' in compound tenses (like passé composé: 'je suis allé').