Language/French/Grammar/Present-Tense

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In this article, we will dive into the fascinating world of the French language and explain how to master the use of the present tense in French. 🇫🇷

The French present tense is the most useful and essential French tense you will learn, making it the perfect starting point for your language journey. 🌟

After mastering the present tense, you can further enhance your French grammar skills by exploring related topics such as fractions, subject pronouns, and plurals. These additional resources will help you become a true French language expert! 📚🥐

When to use?[edit | edit source]

When use the present in French?

The French present tense is used to talk about:

  • Current situations
  • What’s about to happen
  • Habits
  • Absolute truths

Examples[edit | edit source]

Current situations[edit | edit source]

  • Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? Je mange = What are you doing? I’m eating

What’s about to happen[edit | edit source]

  • Mardi prochain à 14 heures, il a un rendez-vous important = This Tuesday at 2PM, he has an important meeting

Habits[edit | edit source]

  • Je suis malade chaque hiver = I’m sick every winter

Absolute truths[edit | edit source]

  • Les français sont des râleurs = French like to complain

There are two kinds of French verbs: regular verbs and irregular verbs.

Regular verbs follow the same pattern. Once you know how to conjugate the 3 kinds of regular verbs, you will be able to conjugate the majority of French verbs.

Irregular verbs don’t follow any pattern. This means you need to learn their ending. We're lucky because most verbs are regular!

Regular verbs[edit | edit source]

There are 3 kinds of regular verbs:

  • Verbs in -ER
  • Verbs in -IR
  • Verbs in -RE

They follow the patterns below:

Verbs in -ER[edit | edit source]

The great majority of French verbs end in "-ER". So you will improve a lot by just knowing how to use ER verbs.

Pronoun

Verb

Example

Je

mange

Je mange des fraises

I eat strawberries

Tu

manges

Tu ne manges jamais la matin

You never eat in the morning

Il/elle/on

mange

Il mange souvent des fruits

He often eats fruit

Nous

mangeons

Demain, nous mangeons à la maison

Tomorrow, we eat at home

Vous

mangez

Ce soir, vous mangez ensemble

Tonight you eat together

Ils/elles

mangent

Quand mangent-il en général ?

When do they eat in general?

Verbs in -IR[edit | edit source]

IR verbs are estimated to represent only a small percentage of French verbs. Here are the patterns that regular IR verbs follow:

Pronoun

Verb

Example

Je

finis

Ce soir, je finis à 6h

Tonight I finish at 6

Tu

finis

Demain, tu finis tôt

Tomorrow you finish early

Il/elle/on

finit

En général, il finit toujours ce qu'il a commencé

In general, he always finishes what he started

Nous

finissons

Nous finissons ensemble aujourd'hui

We finish together today

Vous

finissez

Vous finissez ce dessin avant de partir ?

You finish this drawing before you go?

Ils/elles

finissent

ils finissent et ils partent

They finish and they go

Verbs in -RE[edit | edit source]

Regular RE verbs follow this pattern:

Pronoun

Verb

Example

Je

vends

Je vends des livres

I sell books

Tu

vends

Tu vends souvent ?

You come often?

Il/elle/on

vend

En ce moment, il vend son appartement

Right now, he sells his apartment

Nous

vendons

Nous vendons ce que nous pouvons

We sell what we can

Vous

vendez

Combien vendez-vous cela en général ?

How much do you sell this in general?

Ils/elles

vendent

Ils vendent trop cher ici

They sell overpriced here

Irregular verbs[edit | edit source]

Irregular French verbs don’t follow the regular verbs patterns and you will have to learn the conjugation of each irregular verb.

You do not need to learn a list of irregular verbs. Instead, you should learn the most common ones you'll find in most conversations.

For example, "avoir" (to have) and "être" (to be) are found in many French sentences.

Avoir[edit | edit source]

Conjugation

Translation

Example

J’ai

I have

J'ai 18 ans

I'm 18 years old

Tu as

You have

De quoi as-tu envie ?

What do you want?

Il/elle/on a

He/she has

Elle a regardé la télévision

She watched television

Nous avons

We have

Nous avons une grande maison

We have a big house

Vous avez

You have

Combien de livres avez-vous ?

How many books do you have?

Ils/elles ont

They have

Ils ont une voiture

They have a car

Être[edit | edit source]

Conjugation

Translation

Example

Je suis

I am

Je suis ici

I am here

Tu es

You are

Tu es grand

You are tall

Il/elle/on est

He/she is

Elle est gentille

She's nice

Nous sommes

We are

Nous sommes cinq

We are five

Vous êtes

You are

Vous êtes Monsieur Dupond ?

You are Mr. Dupond?

Ils/elles sont

They are

Ils sont nombreux

They are numerous

Aller[edit | edit source]

Conjugation

Translation

Example

Je vais

I go

Je vais au travail

I'm going to work

Tu vas

You go

Tu y vas combien de fois par jour ?

How many times a day do you go there?

Il/elle/on va

He/she goes

Elle va réussir son examen, c'est sur

She will pass the test, that's for sure

Nous allons

We go

Nous allons nous retrouver bientôt

We will meet soon

Vous allez

You go

Vous allez à Paris

You go to Paris

Ils/elles vont

They go

Elles vont me le dire

They will tell me

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