J'allais + [infinitive] to express the near future in the past in French

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2025-07-02
46 questions

Learn how to say "was/were going to" in French

Look at these examples of Le Futur Proche dans le Passé, or how to say 'was/were going to' :

J'allais fermer la porte quand tu m'as appelé.I was going to close the door when you called me.

Tu allais manquer ton avion, c'est pour ça que tu t'es dépêché.You were going to miss your plane, that's why you rushed.

Elle allait appeler la police !She was going to call the police!

Allions-nous y arriver ? Personne ne le savait.Were we going to make it? No one knew.

Vous alliez vous rejoindre plus tard.You were going to meet later.

Oh là là ! Qu'est-ce qu'ils allaient s'ennuyer !My oh my! They were going to get so bored!

 

Note that to express 'I was going to + verb', you use L'Imparfait of the verb aller in French, followed by the infinitive.


ATTENTION:
Using Le Passé Composé would mean 'I went to do'!
e.g. Je suis allé faire mes devoirs.  (I went to do my homework.)

 

 

See also the previous lesson Conjugate verbs in the near future in French using aller + infinitive (Le Futur Proche) 

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Examples and resources

J'allais fermer la porte quand tu m'as appelé.I was going to close the door when you called me.
Tu allais manquer ton avion, c'est pour ça que tu t'es dépêché.You were going to miss your plane, that's why you rushed.
Elle allait appeler la police !She was going to call the police!
Allions-nous y arriver ? Personne ne le savait.Were we going to make it? No one knew.
Vous alliez vous rejoindre plus tard.You were going to meet later.
Oh là là ! Qu'est-ce qu'ils allaient s'ennuyer !My oh my! They were going to get so bored!
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