Present tense in French, known as le présent de l’indicatif, is used to describe current actions, general truths, and habitual activities. It also expresses near-future events and can be used for narration.
The French present tense is one of the most commonly used verb tenses and applies to all three verb groups: -er, -ir, and -re. It also includes irregular verbs that must be memorized individually.
Conjugations
Here are the conjugations for three regular verbs: parler (to speak), finir (to finish), and vendre (to sell).
| French Pronoun | Parler (to speak) | Finir (to finish) | Vendre (to sell) | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | parle | finis | vends | Je parle français. | I speak French. |
| tu | parles | finis | vends | Tu finis tes devoirs. | You finish your homework. |
| il/elle/on | parle | finit | vend | Elle vend des pommes. | She sells apples. |
| nous | parlons | finissons | vendons | Nous parlons anglais. | We speak English. |
| vous | parlez | finissez | vendez | Vous vendez des livres. | You sell books. |
| ils/elles | parlent | finissent | vendent | Ils finissent tôt. | They finish early. |
Note: The stem for regular verbs is the infinitive minus -er, -ir, or -re. Endings are added accordingly.
Which subject pronoun always has the same verb ending across all three regular verb groups?
je
The subject pronoun 'je' is first person singular, and each regular group has a unique ending for 'je,' but the pronoun itself is the same across groups.
When to Use
Use the French present tense in the following situations:
- Current Actions: Describing what is happening right now.
- Je lis un livre.* (I am reading a book.)
- Habitual Actions: Talking about routines or things you do regularly.
- Nous allons à l’école tous les jours.* (We go to school every day.)
- General Truths: Stating facts or universal truths.
- L’eau bout à 100 degrés.* (Water boils at 100 degrees.)
- Near Future: Indicating something that will happen soon.
- Je pars dans cinq minutes.* (I’m leaving in five minutes.)
- Narration: Telling a story or describing events in a vivid way.
- Alors, il entre dans la pièce et il crie...* (So, he enters the room and yells...)
Common Mistakes
- Omitting Subject Pronouns: Unlike English, French subject pronouns cannot be dropped.
- *Parle français.
- *Je parle français.
- Using the Infinitive Instead of Conjugated Form: Always conjugate to match the subject.
- *Je parler français.
- *Je parle français.
- Misplacing Accent Marks: Be careful with the è and é accents, especially in irregular verbs like acheter (j’achète).
- *J’achete
- *J’achète
- Overusing Present for Future: While present can indicate near future, avoid it for distant future events.
- Je pars demain soir. (correct, near future)
- Je pars dans un mois. (better: Je partirai dans un mois.)
- Confusing -re Verb Endings: For example, attendre becomes j’attends, not j’attend.
Examples
| Usage | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Current Action | Je mange une pomme. | I am eating an apple. |
| Habitual Action | Elle se lève à 6 heures. | She gets up at 6 a.m. |
| General Truth | Le soleil se lève à l’est. | The sun rises in the east. |
| Near Future | Nous partons bientôt. | We are leaving soon. |
| Narration | Je marche dans la rue et je vois un chat. | I walk down the street and see a cat. |
Special Topics
Reflexive Verbs in Present Tense
Reflexive verbs include a pronoun that reflects the action back to the subject.
| French Pronoun | se laver (to wash oneself) | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | me lave | Je me lave les mains. | I wash my hands. |
| tu | te laves | Tu te lèves tôt. | You get up early. |
| il/elle/on | se lave | Elle se lave le visage. | She washes her face. |
| nous | nous lavons | Nous nous préparons. | We get ready. |
| vous | vous lavez | Vous vous reposez. | You rest. |
| ils/elles | se lavent | Ils se lavent après le sport. | They wash themselves after sports. |
Tip: The reflexive pronoun comes before the verb.
Irregular Verbs in Present Tense
Some common irregular verbs do not follow regular patterns and must be memorized.
| Verb | French Example | English Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| être | Je suis étudiant. | I am a student. | être* = to be |
| avoir | J’ai un chat. | I have a cat. | avoir* = to have |
| aller | Je vais au marché. | I go to the market. | aller* = to go |
| faire | Je fais mes devoirs. | I do my homework. | faire* = to do/make |
| venir | Je viens demain. | I’m coming tomorrow. | venir* = to come |
| pouvoir | Je peux sortir. | I can go out. | pouvoir* = can |
| savoir | Je sais nager. | I know how to swim. | savoir* = know how |
| vouloir | Je veux du café. | I want some coffee. | vouloir* = want |
The -ger and -cer Verb Rule
- -ger verbs add an e before -ons to keep the soft "g" sound.
- Nous mangeons (not mangons)
- Examples: manger, nager, *changer
- -cer verbs change c to ç before -ons to keep the soft "c" sound.
- Nous commençons (not commencons)
- Examples: commencer, lancer, *placer
Conclusion
The French present tense is a fundamental building block for communication. It allows you to talk about what’s happening, describe your routine, state facts, and even hint at near-future plans. Mastering regular conjugations, reflexive verbs, and common irregular verbs will give you a strong foundation for speaking and writing confidently.
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- Parler (to speak): parle
- Finir (to finish): finis
- Vendre (to sell): vends
- English Example: I speak French.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
