Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Present-Tense"
(Created page with "<youtube>vnJ3NDt_IiE</youtube> The French present tense is the most useful French tense and is the first tense you will learn. ==When to use?== When use the present in Frenc...") |
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[[File:learn_french_le_present.png|thumb]] | |||
In this article, we will dive into the fascinating world of the French language and explain how to master the use of the [[Language/French/Grammar/Present-Tense|present tense]] in French. 🇫🇷 | |||
The French present tense is the most useful 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 [[Language/French/Grammar/Fractions|fractions]], [[Language/French/Grammar/Subject-pronouns|subject pronouns]], and [[Language/French/Grammar/Plurals|plurals]]. These additional resources will help you become a true French language expert! 📚🥐 | |||
==When to use?== | ==When to use?== | ||
When use the present in French? | When use the present in French? | ||
| Line 24: | Line 27: | ||
=== Absolute truths === | === Absolute truths === | ||
*Les français sont des râleurs = French like to complain | *Les français sont des râleurs = French like to complain | ||
There are two kinds of French verbs: regular verbs and irregular verbs. | There are two kinds of French verbs: regular verbs and irregular verbs. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 34: | ||
Irregular verbs don’t follow any pattern. This means you need to learn their ending. We're lucky because most verbs are regular! | 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== | |||
There are 3 kinds of regular verbs: | There are 3 kinds of regular verbs: | ||
| Line 45: | Line 47: | ||
The great majority of French verbs end in "-ER". So you will improve a lot by just knowing how to use ER verbs. | The great majority of French verbs end in "-ER". So you will improve a lot by just knowing how to use ER verbs. | ||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | |||
'''Pronoun''' | '''Pronoun''' | ||
! | |||
''' | '''Verb''' | ||
! | |||
'''Example''' | '''Example''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 67: | Line 63: | ||
| | | | ||
e | mang'''e''' | ||
| | | | ||
Je mange des fraises | Je mange des fraises | ||
''I eat strawberries'' | |||
I eat strawberries | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 83: | Line 75: | ||
| | | | ||
es | mang'''es''' | ||
| | | | ||
Tu ne manges jamais la matin | Tu ne manges jamais la matin | ||
''You never eat in the morning'' | |||
You never eat in the morning | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 99: | Line 87: | ||
| | | | ||
e | mang'''e''' | ||
| | | | ||
Il mange souvent des fruits | Il mange souvent des fruits | ||
''He often eats fruit'' | |||
He often eats fruit | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 115: | Line 99: | ||
| | | | ||
ons | mange'''ons''' | ||
| | | | ||
Demain, nous mangeons à la maison | |||
''Tomorrow, we eat at home'' | |||
Demain, nous mangeons à la | |||
maison | |||
Tomorrow, we eat at home | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 132: | Line 111: | ||
| | | | ||
ez | mang'''ez''' | ||
| | | | ||
Ce soir, vous mangez ensemble | Ce soir, vous mangez ensemble | ||
''Tonight you eat together'' | |||
Tonight you eat together | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 148: | Line 123: | ||
| | | | ||
ent | mang'''ent''' | ||
| | | | ||
Quand mangent-il en général ? | Quand mangent-il en général ? | ||
''When do they eat in general?'' | |||
When do they eat in general? | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 164: | Line 135: | ||
IR verbs are estimated to represent only a small percentage of French verbs. Here are the patterns that regular IR verbs follow: | IR verbs are estimated to represent only a small percentage of French verbs. Here are the patterns that regular IR verbs follow: | ||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | |||
'''Pronoun''' | '''Pronoun''' | ||
! | |||
''' | '''Verb''' | ||
! | |||
'''Example''' | '''Example''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 186: | Line 151: | ||
| | | | ||
is | fin'''is''' | ||
| | | | ||
Ce soir, je finis à 6h | Ce soir, je finis à 6h | ||
''Tonight I finish at 6'' | |||
Tonight I finish at 6 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 202: | Line 163: | ||
| | | | ||
is | fin'''is''' | ||
| | | | ||
Demain, tu finis tôt | Demain, tu finis tôt | ||
''Tomorrow you finish early'' | |||
Tomorrow you finish early | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 218: | Line 175: | ||
| | | | ||
it | fin'''it''' | ||
| | | | ||
En général, il finit toujours ce | En général, il finit toujours ce | ||
qu'il a commencé | qu'il a commencé | ||
''In general, he always finishes what he started'' | |||
In general, he always finishes what he | |||
started | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 236: | Line 188: | ||
| | | | ||
issons | fin'''issons''' | ||
| | | | ||
Nous finissons ensemble aujourd'hui | |||
''We finish together today'' | |||
Nous finissons ensemble | |||
aujourd'hui | |||
We finish together today | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 253: | Line 200: | ||
| | | | ||
issez | fin'''issez''' | ||
| | | | ||
Vous finissez ce dessin avant de | Vous finissez ce dessin avant de | ||
partir ? | partir ? | ||
''You finish this drawing before you go?'' | |||
You finish this drawing before you go? | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 270: | Line 213: | ||
| | | | ||
issent | fin'''issent''' | ||
| | | | ||
ils finissent et ils partent | ils finissent et ils partent | ||
''They finish and they go'' | |||
They finish and they go | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 286: | Line 225: | ||
Regular RE verbs follow this pattern: | Regular RE verbs follow this pattern: | ||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | |||
'''Pronoun''' | '''Pronoun''' | ||
! | |||
''' | '''Verb''' | ||
! | |||
'''Example''' | '''Example''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 308: | Line 241: | ||
| | | | ||
s | vend'''s''' | ||
| | | | ||
Je vends des livres | Je vends des livres | ||
''I sell books'' | |||
I sell books | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 324: | Line 253: | ||
| | | | ||
s | vend'''s''' | ||
| | | | ||
Tu vends souvent ? | Tu vends souvent ? | ||
''You come often?'' | |||
You come often ? | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Il/elle/on | Il/elle/on | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 346: | Line 268: | ||
| | | | ||
En ce moment, il vend son | En ce moment, il vend son appartement | ||
appartement | |||
''Right now, he sells his apartment'' | |||
Right now, he sells his apartment | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 357: | Line 277: | ||
| | | | ||
ons | vend'''ons''' | ||
| | | | ||
Nous vendons ce que nous pouvons | Nous vendons ce que nous pouvons | ||
''We sell what we can'' | |||
We sell what we can | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 373: | Line 289: | ||
| | | | ||
ez | vend'''ez''' | ||
| | | | ||
Combien vendez-vous cela en général ? | |||
''How much do you sell this in general?'' | |||
Combien vendez-vous cela en | |||
général ? | |||
How much do you sell this in general? | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 390: | Line 301: | ||
| | | | ||
ent | vend'''ent''' | ||
| | | | ||
Ils vendent trop cher ici | Ils vendent trop cher ici | ||
''They sell overpriced here'' | |||
They sell overpriced here | |||
|} | |} | ||
==Irregular verbs== | |||
Irregular French verbs don’t follow the regular verbs patterns and you will have to learn the conjugation of each irregular verb. | Irregular French verbs don’t follow the regular verbs patterns and you will have to learn the conjugation of each irregular verb. | ||
| Line 411: | Line 318: | ||
For example, "avoir" (to have) and "être" (to be) are found in many French sentences. | For example, "avoir" (to have) and "être" (to be) are found in many French sentences. | ||
===Avoir=== | |||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | |||
'''Conjugation''' | '''Conjugation''' | ||
! | |||
'''Translation''' | '''Translation''' | ||
! | |||
'''Example''' | '''Example''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
J’'''ai''' | |||
| | | | ||
| Line 435: | Line 339: | ||
| | | | ||
J'ai 18 ans | J'ai 18 ans | ||
''I'm 18 years old'' | |||
I'm 18 years old | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Tu as | Tu '''as''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 448: | Line 351: | ||
| | | | ||
De quoi as-tu envie ? | De quoi as-tu envie ? | ||
''What do you want?'' | |||
What do you want? | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Il/elle/on a | Il/elle/on '''a''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 461: | Line 363: | ||
| | | | ||
Elle a regardé la télévision | Elle a regardé la télévision | ||
''She watched television'' | |||
She watched television | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Nous avons | Nous '''avons''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 474: | Line 375: | ||
| | | | ||
Nous avons une grande maison | Nous avons une grande maison | ||
''We have a big house'' | |||
We have a big house | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Vous avez | Vous '''avez''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 487: | Line 387: | ||
| | | | ||
Combien de livres avez-vous ? | Combien de livres avez-vous ? | ||
''How many books do you have?'' | |||
How many books do you have? | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Ils/elles ont | Ils/elles '''ont''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 500: | Line 399: | ||
| | | | ||
Ils ont une voiture | Ils ont une voiture | ||
''They have a car'' | |||
They have a car | |||
|} | |} | ||
===Être=== | |||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | |||
'''Conjugation''' | '''Conjugation''' | ||
! | |||
'''Translation''' | '''Translation''' | ||
! | |||
'''Example''' | '''Example''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Je suis | Je '''suis''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 530: | Line 425: | ||
| | | | ||
Je suis ici | Je suis ici | ||
''I am here'' | |||
I am here | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Tu es | Tu '''es''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 543: | Line 436: | ||
| | | | ||
Tu es grand | Tu es grand | ||
You are tall | You are tall | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Il/elle/on est | Il/elle/on '''est''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 556: | Line 448: | ||
| | | | ||
Elle est gentille | Elle est gentille | ||
She's nice | She's nice | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Nous sommes | Nous '''sommes''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 569: | Line 460: | ||
| | | | ||
Nous sommes cinq | Nous sommes cinq | ||
We are five | We are five | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Vous êtes | Vous '''êtes''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 582: | Line 472: | ||
| | | | ||
Vous êtes Monsieur Dupond ? | Vous êtes Monsieur Dupond ? | ||
You are Mr. Dupond? | You are Mr. Dupond? | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Ils/elles sont | Ils/elles '''sont''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 595: | Line 484: | ||
| | | | ||
Ils sont nombreux | Ils sont nombreux | ||
They are numerous | They are numerous | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Aller=== | |||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! | |||
'''Conjugation''' | '''Conjugation''' | ||
! | |||
'''Translation''' | '''Translation''' | ||
! | |||
'''Example''' | '''Example''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Je vais | Je '''vais''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 625: | Line 510: | ||
| | | | ||
Je vais au travail | Je vais au travail | ||
I'm going to work | I'm going to work | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Tu vas | Tu '''vas''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 638: | Line 522: | ||
| | | | ||
Tu y vas combien de fois par jour ? | Tu y vas combien de fois par jour ? | ||
How many times a day do you go there? | How many times a day do you go there? | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Il/elle/on va | Il/elle/on '''va''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 651: | Line 534: | ||
| | | | ||
Elle va réussir son examen, c'est sur | Elle va réussir son examen, c'est sur | ||
She will pass the test, that's for sure | She will pass the test, that's for sure | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Nous allons | Nous '''allons''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 664: | Line 546: | ||
| | | | ||
Nous allons nous retrouver bientôt | Nous allons nous retrouver bientôt | ||
We will meet soon | We will meet soon | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Vous allez | Vous '''allez''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 677: | Line 558: | ||
| | | | ||
Vous allez à Paris | Vous allez à Paris | ||
You go to Paris | You go to Paris | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Ils/elles vont | Ils/elles '''vont''' | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 690: | Line 570: | ||
| | | | ||
Elles vont me le dire | Elles vont me le dire | ||
They will tell me | They will tell me | ||
|} | |} | ||
==VIDEOS== | |||
<youtube>vnJ3NDt_IiE</youtube> | |||
{{#seo: | |||
|title=Learn French Tenses: Le Présent | |||
|keywords=examples, rule, conjugate, useful, necessary | |||
|description=The present tense is the most important in French. Here is how to use it. | |||
|og:image=http://polyglotclub.com/wiki/images/4/4b/Learn_french_le_present.png | |||
}} | |||
[[Category:French/Beginner]] | |||
==Other Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Categories-of-Nouns-in-French|Categories of Nouns in French]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Adverb—adjective-compounds|Adverb—adjective compounds]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs-ending-in-—ment-derived-from-the-masculine-form-of-an-adjective|Adverbs ending in —ment derived from the masculine form of an adjective]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Indirect-and-Direct-Transitive-Verbs|Indirect and Direct Transitive Verbs]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Directly-transitive-verbs-take-the-auxiliary-“avoir”|Directly transitive verbs take the auxiliary “avoir”]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs-ending-in-—ément-derived-from-adjectives-ending-in-—e|Adverbs ending in —ément derived from adjectives ending in —e]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Verbs-which-take-noun-+-adjective-or-noun-+-noun-complements|Verbs which take noun + adjective or noun + noun complements]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Nouns-which-have-the-same-spoken-form-but-two-different-written-forms|Nouns which have the same spoken form but two different written forms]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Plural-of-Nouns|Plural of Nouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Regular-plurals-in-French|Regular plurals in French]] | |||
<span links></span> | |||
Latest revision as of 20:09, 24 March 2023
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 |
VIDEOS[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Categories of Nouns in French
- Adverb—adjective compounds
- Adverbs ending in —ment derived from the masculine form of an adjective
- Indirect and Direct Transitive Verbs
- Directly transitive verbs take the auxiliary “avoir”
- Adverbs ending in —ément derived from adjectives ending in —e
- Verbs which take noun + adjective or noun + noun complements
- Nouns which have the same spoken form but two different written forms
- Plural of Nouns
- Regular plurals in French