Understanding French tenses is your gateway to navigating time in the French language. We’ll explore the most essential tenses—how to form them, when to use them, and even compare them side by side. With practice, you’ll be able to tell stories, make plans, and express possibilities effortlessly.
1. Le Présent: The Here and Now
When to use it:
- Describing actions happening right now or regularly.
- Facts or general truths.
- Describing ongoing actions.
Example Sentences:
- Je mange une pomme. (I am eating an apple.)
- Nous parlons français tous les jours. (We speak French every day.)
- Le soleil se lève à l’est. (The sun rises in the east.)
Formation:
- ER verbs: Remove -er, add: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.
- Parler → je parle, tu parles, il parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent.
- IR verbs: Remove -ir, add: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent.
- Finir → je finis, tu finis, il finit, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent.
- RE verbs: Remove -re, add: -s, -s, nothing, -ons, -ez, -ent.
- Vendre → je vends, tu vends, il vend, nous vendons, vous vendez, ils vendent.
2. Le Passé Composé: The Snapshot of the Past
When to use it:
- To talk about completed actions or events that happened once in the past.
- Actions with a definite time frame.
Example Sentences:
- Hier, j’ai mangé une pizza. (Yesterday, I ate a pizza.)
- Nous avons visité Paris. (We visited Paris.)
Formation:
- Avoir or Être (in the present tense) + Past Participle.
- Most verbs use avoir: J’ai parlé (I spoke).
- Verbs of motion and reflexive verbs use être: Il est allé (He went), Elle s’est lavée (She washed herself).
Past Participles:
- ER verbs: parlé
- IR verbs: fini
- RE verbs: vendu
Tip: The past participle agrees with the subject when using être (gender and number). For example: Elle est allée (She went), Ils sont allés (They went).
3. L’Imparfait: The Storyteller’s Past
When to use it:
- Describing background information or ongoing actions in the past.
- Talking about habits or repeated actions in the past.
Example Sentences:
- Quand j’étais petit, je jouais au football. (When I was little, I used to play soccer.)
- Il faisait beau. (The weather was nice.)
Formation:
- Take the nous form of the present tense, drop -ons, and add: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
- Parler → je parlais, tu parlais, il parlait, nous parlions, vous parliez, ils parlaient.
Tip: The imparfait is great for painting a scene, describing what things were like, or what people were doing over a period of time.
4. Le Futur Proche: The Near Future
When to use it:
- For actions that are going to happen soon, usually in informal or spoken French.
Example Sentences:
- Je vais étudier ce soir. (I’m going to study tonight.)
- Ils vont partir demain. (They are going to leave tomorrow.)
Formation:
- Use aller in the present tense + the infinitive.
- Je vais manger (I’m going to eat).
- Nous allons regarder (We are going to watch).
Tip: The futur proche is easy to learn and is very common in spoken French!
5. Le Futur Simple: The Distant Future
When to use it:
- To talk about planned events or predictions about the distant future.
- Used in formal or written French more often than in conversation.
Example Sentences:
- Demain, je parlerai avec le professeur. (Tomorrow, I will talk to the teacher.)
- Nous voyagerons l’année prochaine. (We will travel next year.)
Formation:
- Take the infinitive and add: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
- Je parlerai (I will speak).
- Nous partirons (We will leave).
Irregular Stems:
- Avoir → j’aurai (I will have)
- Être → je serai (I will be)
- Aller → j’irai (I will go)
6. Le Conditionnel Présent: What If?
When to use it:
- To describe hypothetical situations, possibilities, or make polite requests.
Example Sentences:
- Si j’avais de l’argent, je voyagerais autour du monde. (If I had money, I would travel around the world.)
- Pourriez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? (Could you help me, please?)
Formation:
- Take the futur simple stem and add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
- Je parlerais (I would speak).
- Nous finirions (We would finish).
Tip: Great for dreaming up possibilities or making polite suggestions.
7. Le Subjonctif Présent: The Mood of Uncertainty
When to use it:
- Expressing doubt, necessity, emotion, or desire.
- Usually follows expressions like: il faut que (it’s necessary that), je veux que (I want that), je doute que (I doubt that).
Example Sentences:
- Il faut que tu viennes. (It’s necessary that you come.)
- Je doute qu’il comprenne. (I doubt that he understands.)
Formation:
- Take the ils form of the present tense, drop -ent, and add: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
- Je parle → Il faut que je parle (I must speak).
Tip: Although the subjonctif can seem tricky, it’s often used in common phrases.
Comparison Table: Key French Tenses (continued)
Tense | When to Use | Formation Example | Common Contexts |
---|---|---|---|
Présent | Actions happening now or regularly | Je parle (I speak) | Daily life, facts, general truths |
Passé Composé | Completed actions/events in the past | J’ai parlé (I spoke) | Specific events in the past |
Imparfait | Background info, habits in the past | Je parlais (I was speaking) | Descriptions, ongoing actions in the past |
Futur Proche | Immediate future actions | Je vais parler (I am going to speak) | Informal future plans |
Futur Simple | Distant future plans or predictions | Je parlerai (I will speak) | Formal or written future events |
Conditionnel Présent | Hypothetical or polite requests | Je parlerais (I would speak) | Politeness, hypothetical situations |
Subjonctif Présent | Expressing doubt, desire, or emotion | Il faut que je parle (It’s necessary that I speak) | Uncertainty, emotion, necessity |
Conclusion: Navigating French Tenses with Confidence
Mastering these key French tenses will give you the tools to express yourself clearly across different times and situations. While it might seem overwhelming at first, here’s the key:
- Use the present to talk about the here and now.
- Reach for the passé composé to describe events that are done.
- Dive into the imparfait for background descriptions and ongoing actions in the past.
- Grab the futur proche to talk about what’s just around the corner.
- Opt for the futur simple for more formal or distant plans.
- Dream up possibilities with the conditionnel.
- And express emotion, doubt, or desire with the subjonctif.
With practice, these tenses will become second nature, and you’ll be able to navigate time in French with ease!