| Temps |
Usage |
English Tense |
Exemple Français |
English Translation |
| Le Présent de l'Indicatif |
An action or state of being at the present time |
Present Continuous |
Je vais à l'école maintenant |
I am going to school now |
| Present |
Je pense; donc, je suis |
I think; therefore, I am |
| Habitual action |
Present |
Je vais à la bibliothèque tous les jours |
I go to the library every day |
| A general or universal truth |
Present |
Voir c'est coire |
Seeing is believing |
| Vividness when talking about the past |
Historical Present |
Avoir vaincu les Grecs, Hector viens á Helen |
Having defeated the Greeks, Hector comes to Helen |
| A near future |
Present |
Il arrive demain |
He arrives tomorrow |
| An action which began in the past and continues to the present |
Present Perfect |
Je suis ici depuis decembre |
I have been here since December |
| L'Imparfait de l'Indicatif |
An action that was going on in the past at the same time as another action |
Past Continuous |
Il lisait pendant que j'écrivais |
He was reading while I was writing |
| An action that was going on in the past when another action occurred |
Past Continous |
Il lisait quand je suis arrivé |
He was reading when I arrived |
| An action performed habitually in the past |
|
Nous allions à la plage tous les jours |
We would go to the beach every day |
|
Je pêchais tous les samedis |
I used to fish every Saturday |
| A desription of a physical or mental condition in the past |
Past |
Il était vivant quand j'ai été la |
It was alive when I was there |
| An action that occurred in the past and lasted for a certain period of time before another |
Past Perfect Continuous |
J'attendais l'autobus depuis dix minutes quand il est arrivé |
I had been waiting for the bus for ten minutes when it arrived |
| Express something contrary to fact |
Subjunctive |
Si j'étais vous, je ne le ferais pas |
If I were you, I would not do it |
| Le Passé Simple |
| Le Futur |
An action that will take place in the future |
Future |
J'y penserai |
I will think about it |
| Present |
Quand j'irai au marché, j'achèterai du pain dès que j'arriverai |
When I go to the store, I will buy some bread as soon as I arrive |
| Le Conditionnel Présent |
An action you would do if it were possible |
Conditional |
Je ferais le travail si j'avais le temps |
I would do the work if I had the time |
| To soften a request |
Conditional |
Je voudrais du thé |
I would like some tea |
| Le Présent du Subjonctif |
Express a command |
Subjunctive |
Soyez à temps |
Be on time |
| After a verb that expresses insistence, preference or suggestion |
Subjunctive |
J'exige qu'il soit puni |
I demand that he be punished |
| After a verb that expresses doubt, fear, joy, sorrow or other emotion |
Present Continuous |
Je suis heureux qu'il vienne |
I am happy that he is coming |
| After conjunctions that introduce uncertainty |
Present |
Je parterai à moins qu'il vienne |
I will leave unless he comes |
| After certain impersonal expressions indicating need, doubt, possibility or impossibility |
Present |
Il faut qu'elle fasse le travail |
She must do the work |
| Future |
Il est douteux qu'il vienne |
It is doubtful that he will come |
| L'Imparfait du Subjonctif |
| L'Impératif |
A mood expresing a command or request |
Imperative |
Sortez! |
Get out! |
| Bouvons! |
Let us drink! |
| Assieds-toi! |
Sit down! |
| Ne vous levez pas |
Don't get up |