Language/French/Grammar/Present-Tense
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 French?
The French present tense is used to talk about:
- Current situations
- What’s about to happen
- Habits
- Absolute truths
Examples
Current situations
- Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? Je mange = What are you doing? I’m eating
What’s about to happen
- Mardi prochain à 14 heures, il a un rendez-vous important = This Tuesday at 2PM, he has an important meeting
Habits
- Je suis malade chaque hiver = I’m sick every winter
Absolute truths
- Les français sont des râleurs = French like to complain
French present tense endings
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
There are 3 kinds of regular verbs:
- Verbs in -ER
- Verbs in -IR
- Verbs in -RE
They follow the patterns below:
Verbs in -ER
The great majority of French verbs end in "-ER". So you will improve a lot by just knowing how to use ER verbs.
Pronoun |
Ending |
Example |
Phrase |
Meaning |
Je |
e |
mange |
Je mange des fraises |
I eat strawberries |
Tu |
es |
manges |
Tu ne manges jamais la matin |
You never eat in the morning |
Il/elle/on |
e |
mange |
Il mange souvent des fruits |
He often eats fruit |
Nous |
ons |
mangeons |
Demain, nous mangeons à la maison |
Tomorrow, we eat at home |
Vous |
ez |
mangez |
Ce soir, vous mangez ensemble |
Tonight you eat together |
Ils/elles |
ent |
mangent |
Quand mangent-il en général ? |
When do they eat in general? |
Verbs in -IR
IR verbs are estimated to represent only a small percentage of French verbs. Here are the patterns that regular IR verbs follow:
Pronoun |
Ending |
Example |
Phrase |
Meaning |
Je |
is |
finis |
Ce soir, je finis à 6h |
Tonight I finish at 6 |
Tu |
is |
finis |
Demain, tu finis tôt |
Tomorrow you finish early |
Il/elle/on |
it |
finit |
En général, il finit toujours ce qu'il a commencé |
In general, he always finishes what he started |
Nous |
issons |
finissons |
Nous finissons ensemble aujourd'hui |
We finish together today |
Vous |
issez |
finissez |
Vous finissez ce dessin avant de partir ? |
You finish this drawing before you go? |
Ils/elles |
issent |
finissent |
ils finissent et ils partent |
They finish and they go |
Verbs in -RE
Regular RE verbs follow this pattern:
Pronoun |
Ending |
Example |
Phrase |
Meaning |
Je |
s |
vends |
Je vends des livres |
I sell books |
Tu |
s |
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 |
ons |
vendons |
Nous vendons ce que nous pouvons |
We sell what we can |
Vous |
ez |
vendez |
Combien vendez-vous cela en général ? |
How much do you sell this in general? |
Ils/elles |
ent |
vendent |
Ils vendent trop cher ici |
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.
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
Conjugation |
Translation |
Example |
Translation |
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
Conjugation |
Translation |
Example |
Translation |
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
Conjugation |
Translation |
Example |
Translation |
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 |