Simple Tenses |
Tense |
Usage |
English Tense |
Example 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) |
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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 |
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Nous allions à la plage tous les jours |
We would go to the beach every day |
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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 |
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 |
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