The French Current Tense: Speak About What’s Occurring Now with Le Présent

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Studying French is slightly like a toddler’s journey in studying how one can stroll, run, skip, and scale partitions. Mastering the current tense in French is akin to taking your very first steps. 

From introducing your self to asking for the time, the current tense is an important a part of speaking in French from day one. Beneath, we’ll take an in-depth have a look at how one can simply and successfully use the current tense in French, together with how one can conjugate the commonest kinds of verbs. 

Rosetta Stone’s immersive classes may help you grasp French rapidly and successfully—with out the tedious memorization. Plus, TruAccent may help you sound superb out of your very first lesson! 

What’s the current tense in French?

The current tense describes the best way we conjugate verbs to mirror issues which might be at the moment occurring or are typically true. You might even see it referred to as the current indicative temper; both approach  it’s simply the identify for issues which might be factual or present actuality, versus hypothetical conditions or instructions.

When to make use of the current tense?

The French current tense is analogous in some ways to the current tense in English. It may be used to point out: 

• actions which might be at the moment occurring 

Je vais au supermarché. = I’m going to the shop.

• states of being which might be at the moment true

Mon copain est en retard. = My good friend is late.

• statements which might be typically true

En été, il fait chaud. = It’s scorching in the summertime.

Je vais au supermarché le dimanche. = I am going to the grocery retailer on Sundays.

Elle étudie le français depuis cinq ans. = She has been learning French for five years.

 (You possibly can solely use the current tense if the routine motion continues to be true. in the event you’re speaking about one thing you probably did repeatedly  as a toddler however don’t do anymore, you received’t use the current tense.)

• actions which might be about to occur

Il apporte le gâteau à la soirée. = He’s bringing the cake to the celebration.

• Additionally, you will see it used to inform historic narratives. Whereas English-language textbooks might discuss concerning the storming of the Bastille as what occurred, French texts usually current it as what is going on at that second in historical past.

One superior function of French is that there’s actually just one current tense to study. In English, to totally categorical the current tense you want to have the ability to say: 

• one thing occurs
• one thing does occur and 
• one thing is going on. 

In French, all of that’s conveyed with one current tense verb conjugation. Je parle will be translated as “I discuss,” “I’m speaking,” or “I do discuss.”  As an English speaker, it is very important do not forget that French actually doesn’t use serving to verbs for the current tense.

conjugate the current tense in French (common verbs) 

Conjugating verbs in French includes patterns, so let’s discuss concerning the components of a verb and what patterns you will be looking out for. 

An infinitive verb has no markers to point out what tense it’s in or who’s doing the motion. The equal in English is “to speak,” “to be,” or “to need.” We are able to add an ending and pair it with a pronoun to provide that info. “She discusss.” Now we all know who’s speaking and that it’s occurring now, not up to now or the longer term. 

French infinitive verbs are helpful as a result of their endings assist us determine what patterns to make use of for conjugation in French verb tenses. All verbs have a root or stem in the beginning, and an ending that’s usually the final two letters. Probably the most predictable patterns are for verbs ending in -ER, -IR, or -RE. For instance, the verb parler “to speak”: the foundation is parl and the ending is er, exhibiting you that is an -ER verb. If a verb is common, now that you understand it’s an -ER verb, you additionally know what ending so as to add for any type of the current tense.

For those who’ve studied different languages, chances are you’ll know that the verb endings point out who’s doing the motion. That is additionally true in French; there’s a particular ending to make use of for every topic. Nevertheless, lots of these endings are pronounced the identical approach, so you’ll be able to’t hear the totally different endings when talking. Identical to in English, you could embody a topic pronoun alongside along with your verb.

To conjugate a French verb within the current tense, you’ll typically drop the final two letters from the infinitive and add the ending that’s acceptable for the topic. Let’s check out the most typical kinds of French verbs and see how they’re conjugated.

-RE verbs

-RE verbs are typically common within the current tense, so they’re a fantastic place to start studying current tense conjugations. For any common verb, begin by dropping the final two letters of the infinitive verb. Then add the verb ending that matches the proper topic. 

Word that for some verbs, the il, elle, on type truly doesn’t have a brand new ending; simply drop the final two letters of the infinitive and also you’re finished.

répondre – to reply, to reply

Listed below are another verbs conjugated the identical approach:

• J’entends la chanson. = I hear the music.
• Est-ce que tu vends ta voiture? = Are you promoting your automobile?
• Il perd toujours ses clés. = He all the time loses his keys.
• Vous rendez le livre à la bibliothèque. = You come back the e-book to the library.
• Nous répondons à la query.  = We do reply the query.
• Elles attendent le bus. = They’re ready for the bus.

   Watch out! Attendre solely means “to attend” in French. It by no means means “to attend.”

-IR verbs

Most -IR verbs are common. To conjugate them within the current tense, identical to with -RE verbs, drop the final two letters of the verb and add the proper ending. As you’ll be able to see, common -IR verb endings are slightly bit longer than -RE endings.

finir – to complete

Listed below are some examples of -IR verbs in actual life.

• Je choisis ce journal. = I’m selecting this journal.
• Tu grandis beaucoup! = You’re actually rising up! / You’re getting quite a bit taller!
• Le chaton grossit tous les jours. = The kitten good points weight day-after-day.
• Est-ce que les ours maigrissent en hiver? = Do bears get thinner within the winter?
• Elle agit couragement. = She acts courageously.
• Vous réfléchissez avant de répondre. = You suppose/mirror earlier than answering.

-ER verbs

The most typical kind of verbs in French are -ER verbs. Most -ER verbs are common, so let’s begin with these.

parler – to talk, to speak

Listed below are some extra examples of -ER verbs within the current tense. 

• Je mange un sandwich. = I’m consuming a sandwich.
• Tu regardes la télévision. = You watch tv.
• Sandrine chante. = Sandrine is singing. 
• Nous parlons anglais. = We do communicate English.
• Est-ce que vous étudiez le français? = Do you examine French?
• Ils posent des questions. = They do ask questions.

Exceptions in -ER verbs

There are just a few kinds of -ER verbs that observe the common ending patterns however have adjustments within the stem within the current tense. Usually, if a verb stem ends in a single consonant, the stem will change within the current tense to accommodate French grammar and pronunciation conventions.

Accented -ER verbs

The most typical irregular stem takes the addition of an accent grave on the final “e” on the verb stem. Right here is an instance of a stem altering -ER verb:

acheter – to purchase

Discover that the verb endings are precisely the identical as common -ER verbs.

Listed below are another verbs which have this stem change:

• Je célèbre ton anniversaire. = I’m celebrating your birthday.
• Tu considères l’idée. = You think about the concept.
• Est-ce qu’il préfère la plage? = Does he want the seaside?
• Elle lève la most important. = She raises her hand.
• Elle emmène sa sœur à la fête. = She brings her sister to the celebration. 
• Ils amènent leur copain à l’aéroport. = They take their good friend to the airport.

Doubling -ER verbs

There are a handful of stem altering -ER verbs that double the ultimate consonant within the verb stem as a substitute of including an accent. The most typical of those verbs are appeler (to name) and comparable verbs like rappeler (to recall or to recollect), in addition to jeter (to throw, to throw away) and comparable verbs like rejeter (to reject) and projeter (to undertaking, to throw).

appeler – to name

Appeler  is an particularly helpful verb for starting learners as a result of it’s utilized in introductions. Je m’appelle is usually translated as “My identify is” nevertheless it actually means “I name myself.”

jeter – to throw

For instance:

• Je m’appelle Marie. = My identify is Marie. (Actually, “I name myself Marie.”)
• Tu t’appelles remark? = What’s your identify? (actually, “How do you name your self?)
• Il rappelle ce livre. = He remembers that e-book.
• Nous jetons les ordures. = We do throw away the trash.
• Vous rejetez cette suggestion.  = You’re rejecting that suggestion.
• Les enfants projettent le ballon. = The kids are throwing the ball.

Verbs ending in -YER

The ultimate group of stem altering -ER verbs finish in -YER. These verbs change their “y” to an “i” for all topics besides nous and vous.

envoyer – to ship

Listed below are another verbs that observe this sample.

• Je nettoie ma chambre. = I’m cleansing my room.
• L’école emploie des profs. = The college employs academics.
• Tu appuies le bouton. = You do push the button.
• Ils essaient d’étudier. = They’re attempting to review.
• Est-ce qu’elle paie l’addition? = Is she paying the invoice?

*For -AYER verbs, the stem change is taken into account optionally available, so you’ll be able to write ils essaient  or ils essayent; elle paie or elle paye. Each are equally right.

Irregular verbs

Some verbs are fully irregular; though chances are you’ll discover some similarities in endings with common verbs, the endings and the stems should not common sufficient to belong to a different group. There are a number of irregular verbs that French audio system use each day, so it’s vital to grasp them and be simply as comfy utilizing them as common verbs.

Aller

Aller means “to go.” Chances are you’ll discover this verb ends in “er,” however it’s not conjugated like different -ER verbs.

aller – to go

• Je vais au travail. = I’m going to work.
• Tu vas au cinéma.  = You will the films.
• Cette jupe va bien avec ton chemisier. = That skirt goes effectively along with your shirt.
• Est-ce que nous allons ensemble? = Are we going collectively?
• Vous allez au cinéma. = You will the films.
• Les enfants vont à l’école. = The children go to highschool.

Avoir

Avoir actually means “to have,” however it’s also utilized in many idiomatic expressions. For instance, in English we might say, “I’m hungry.” “I’m afraid.” or “I’m twenty years previous.” however in French you have starvation, have concern, and have twenty years. Right here is the current tense conjugation.

avoir – to have

• J’ai le livre. = I do have the e-book.
• Est-ce que tu as peur des araignées? = Are you afraid of spiders?
• Elle a faim. = She is hungry. (actually, “She has starvation.”)
• Nous avons beaucoup d’amis. = We have now quite a lot of mates.
• Vous avez une salade. = You have got a salad.
• Les frères ont vingt ans. = The brothers are 20 years previous.

Faire

Faire means “to make” or “to do” so it’s used very regularly in French. Along with many of the identical contexts as English, faire is usually used idiomatically, particularly to explain actions.

faire – to make, to do

• Je fais mon travail. = I do my work.
• Tu fais la delicacies. = You’re cooking.
• Il fait chaud aujourd’hui. = It’s scorching right this moment.
• Nous faisons du vélo. = We’re biking. 
• Est-ce que vous faites le dîner? = Are you making dinner?
• Elles font la lessive. = They’re doing laundry.

Watch out to not use faire to point out emphasis. In English we might add “do” as a helper verb to emphasise that we’re in actual fact finishing a particular motion, however in French, emphasis is demonstrated by repeating the topic of the sentence as a substitute.

• Nous aimons ton chapeau orange. = We like your orange hat.
• Nous aimons ton chapeau orange, nous! = We do like your orange hat! 
• Je lis mes courriels. = I learn my emails. / I’m studying my emails. / 

I do learn my emails. (impartial)

• Je lis mes courriels, moi! = I do learn my emails! (emphatic)

Être

Because the verb “to be,” être is an important French verb, however it is extremely irregular. Concentrate, particularly to the vous type to ensure you’re conjugating it appropriately.

être – to be

• Je suis américaine. = I’m American.
• Tu es grand. = You’re tall.
• Elle est actrice. = She is an actress.
• Nous sommes à l’heure. = We’re on time.
• Vous êtes sympa. = You’re good.
• Est-ce qu’ils sont tristes? = Are they unhappy?

Like “do,” watch out to not attempt to apply “is” within the idiomatic methods you’d in English.  “Is” can be utilized as a serving to verb in English to point out one thing that’s within the means of occurring, however French doesn’t use serving to verbs within the current tense.

• Elle se promène. = She walks. / She is strolling.
• Je vais au parc.  = I am going to the park. / I’m going to the park.

Prendre

Prendre means “to take.” It’s principally translated the identical approach as English, however it’s in two frequent idioms. In French, you take a choice as a substitute of constructing a choice, and also you take a meal as a substitute of getting a meal (like in English, you can even say you’re consuming a meal.) 

Prendre can be the exemplar for comparable verbs like apprendre (to study), comprendre (to know), and surprendre (to shock).

prendre – to take

• Je prends le practice. = I’m taking the practice.
• Est-ce que tu prends le petit déjeuner?  = Are you having breakfast?
• Il prend une décision. = He’s making a choice.
• Nous apprenons le français. = We’re studying French.
• Vous comprenez bien. = You perceive effectively.
• Elles surprennent leur copine.  = They’re stunning their good friend.

Irregular -IR verbs

Though the overwhelming majority of -IR verbs are common, there are just a few irregular ones. To conjugate these verbs with plural topics, drop the final two letters of the infinitive as typical. For singular topics, drop the final three letters earlier than including the suitable ending.

partir – to go away

Some extra examples:

• Je sers le café. = I’m serving the espresso.
• Tu sors ce soir. = You’re going out tonight.
• Le petit garçon dort avec son nounours. = The little boy sleeps along with his teddy bear.
• Nous sentons bien. = We do really feel good.
• Est-ce que vous mentez? = Are you mendacity?
• Elles courent tous les jours. = They run day-after-day.

-OIR verbs

Verbs ending in -OIR are sometimes grouped collectively as a result of they’re conjugated equally. They’ve totally different radicals for the nous and vous types in comparison with the opposite topics, so watch out that you simply’re utilizing the proper verb stem in addition to the proper ending! Listed below are the 2 most helpful -OIR verbs for starting learners. 

pouvoir – to have the ability to, can

vouloir – to need

• Je veux de la pizza. = I would like pizza.
• Tu peux parler anglais. = You possibly can communicate English. 
• Il veut visiter Paris.  = He does wish to go to Paris.
• Nous pouvons partir maintenant. = We are able to depart now.
• Est-ce que vous voulez du café? = Would you like some espresso?
• Elles peuvent finir demain. = They’re going to have the ability to end tomorrow.

Grasp the French current tense with Rosetta Stone

To sum up: A French current tense verb can all the time be translated 3 methods: I discuss, I’m speaking, or I do discuss. You possibly can conjugate the current tense by dropping the final 2 letters of the infinitive verb and including the proper ending. If a verb is common, the infinitive ending will inform you what sample to observe in your current tense conjugation. 

We’ve proven you many verb tables, which could be a priceless reference useful resource for checking a particular verb. However the easiest way to actually grasp French verb conjugation is by working towards in an immersive setting. With options like Tales that will help you study genuine, helpful vocabulary, and TruAccent to really feel comfy listening and talking out of your first lesson, Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion system helps you purchase grammar naturally with out rote memorization. You don’t even want an web connection to study with Rosetta Stone! The Audio Companion and Offline mode allow you to obtain dialogues and classes by means of the app so you’ll be able to work on studying French every time and wherever is handy for you. 

Written by Denise Brown