Présent (Present Tense)
The présent tense in French is used to describe actions that are currently happening, habitual actions, or general truths.
Mood:
The indicative mood is used to express facts, certainty, and reality. The present tense is the most straightforward tense in the indicative mood and is often used in everyday conversation.
- Indicative mood = certainty, facts, reality
Usage:
- To describe ongoing actions: Je lis un livre. (I am reading a book.)
- To express habitual actions: Je vais au marché chaque samedi. (I go to the market every Saturday.)
- To state general truths: L'eau gèle à 0 degrés. (Water freezes at 0 degrees.)
- To express future events when the context is clear: Demain, je vais au cinéma. (Tomorrow, I am going to the cinema.)
Conjugation:
French verbs are categorized into three groups based on their endings: -er, -ir, and -re. Here’s how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense:
| Person | -ER Verbs (parler) | -IR Verbs (finir) | -RE Verbs (vendre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | parle | finis | vends |
| Tu | parles | finis | vends |
| Il/Elle/On | parle | finit | vend |
| Nous | parlons | finissons | vendons |
| Vous | parlez | finissez | vendez |
| Ils/Elles | parlent | finissent | vendent |
Irregular Verbs:
Some verbs are irregular and do not follow standard conjugation patterns. Examples include:
- Être (to be): suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont
- Avoir (to have): ai, as, a, avons, avez, ont
- Aller (to go): vais, vas, va, allons, allez, vont
- Faire (to do/make): fais, fais, fait, faisons, faites, font
Common Time Expressions:
- Maintenant (now)
- Aujourd'hui (today)
- Souvent (often)
- Toujours (always)
Examples:
- Je mange une pomme. (I am eating an apple.)
- Elle travaille dans un bureau. (She works in an office.)
