The Present Tense

 The present tense in French, known as le présent de l'indicatif, is used to describe actions that are currently happening, habitual actions and general truths.

WHERE TO USE PRESENT TENSE?

  • For events happening now, at the present moment. 
    • Je prépare le projet. (I am preparing the project)
  • For general states and actions.
    • Il fait chaud. (It is hot)
  • For actions that ocur on regular basis or habits.
    • Elle va à la gym tous les jours. (She goes to the gym every day)
  • For universal truths, facts, and general statements.
    • Le soleil se lève à l'est. (The sun rises in the east)
  • To talk about events that are going to happen in the near future, often when a time expression is included.
    • Je pars demain. (I leave tomorrow.)

CONJUGATION OF VERBS

REGULAR VERBS

ER Verbs: To conjugate we add the endings -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent

CHANTER (to sing)

Je chante

Tu chantes
Il/Elle/On chante
Nous chantons
Vous chantez
Ils/Elles chantent

However, there are some expections to this rule for some ER verbs.

GER - manger (to eat) 

    • Je mange

    • Tu manges

    • Il/elle mange

    • Nous mangeons (an extra E is added)

    • Vous mangez

    • Ils mangent


    CER - commencer (to start)

    • Je commence

    • Tu commences

    • Il/elle commence

    • Nous commençons (c changes to ç)

    • Vous commencez

    • Ils commencent


    ELER/ETER - appeler (to call) *l/t doubles expect for nous and vous

    • J'appelle

    • Tu appelles

    • Il/elle appelle

    • Nous appelons

    • Vous appelez

    Ils/elles appellent

    YER - essayer (to try) *y chages to i except for nous and vous

    • J'essaie

    • Tu essaies

    • Il/elle essaie

    • Nous essayons

    • Vous essayez

    • Ils/elles essaient


    IR Verbs: To conjugate we add the endings -is, -is, -it, issons, -issez, -issent

    Grandir (to grow)

    Je grandis
    Tu grandis
    Il/Elle/On grandit
    Nous grandissons
    Vous grandissez
    Ils/Elles grandissent

    IRREGULAR VERBS

    RE Verbs: To conjugate we add the endings -s, -s, -/, -ons, -ez, -ent


    Entendre (to hear)
    J'entends
    Tu entends
    Il/Elle entend
    Nous entendons
    Vous entendez
    Ils/Elles entendent

Common irregular verb

Etre (to be)Avoir (to have)    Aller (to go)Faire (to do)
Je suisJ'aiJe vaisJe fais
Tu esTu asTu vasTu fais
Il/Elle/On estIl/Elle/On aIl/Elle/On vaIl/Elle/On fait
Nous sommesNous avonsNous allonsNous faisons
Vous êtes Vous avezVous allezVous faites
Ils/Elles sontIls/Elles ontIls/Elles vontIls/Elles font


REFLEXIVE VERBS


Reflexive verbs in French, known as les verbes pronominaux, are verbs where the subject performs the action on itself. These verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject.

Subject Pronoun  Reflexive Pronoun
 Je                                  me (m')
Tu                                      te (t')
Il/Elle/On                   se (s')
Nous                           nous
Vous                           vous
Ils/Elles                           se (s')


Subject PronounConjugation
Jeme lève
Tute lèves
Il/Elle/Onse lève
Nousnous levons
Vousvous levez
Ils/Ellesse lèvent

WHERE TO USE REFLEXIVE VERBS

  1. Daily Routines

    • Reflexive verbs are often used to describe daily routines and personal care activities.

    • Je me brosse les dents. (I brush my teeth.)

  2. Emotional and Mental States

    • They can also describe changes in emotional or mental states.

    • Il se fâche facilement.(He gets angry easily.)

  3. Reciprocal Actions

    • Reflexive verbs can indicate actions performed mutually by two or more people.

    • Nous nous parlons tous les jours. (We talk to each other every day.)

  4. Idiomatic Expressions

    • Some reflexive verbs are part of idiomatic expressions.

    • Elle s'en va.(She is leaving.)

Common Reflexive Verbs

  1. Se laver (to wash oneself)

    • Je me lave les mains. (I wash my hands.)

  2. Se coucher (to go to bed)

    • Ils se couchent tôt. (They go to bed early.)

  3. Se réveiller (to wake up)

    • Nous nous réveillons à 7 heures. (We wake up at 7 o'clock.)

  4. Se promener (to take a walk)

    • Elle se promène dans le parc. (She takes a walk in the park.)

  5. Se détendre (to relax)

    • Tu te détends après le travail. (You relax after work.)






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