The French present tense does more than describe what is happening right now. It also covers habitual actions, general facts, and situations that started in the past and are still ongoing. Understanding these uses helps you use it correctly from the start.
Three uses of the French present tense
- Something happening right now: Je mange une salade. = I am eating a salad.
- A habit or repeated action: Je travaille le lundi. = I work on Mondays.
- A general fact or truth: L’eau bout a 100 degres. = Water boils at 100 degrees.
Regular -ER verbs (review)
Pattern: remove -er, add -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
- parler → je parle, nous parlons
- aimer → j’aime, ils aiment
Regular -IR verbs
Pattern: remove -ir, add -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
- finir → je finis, nous finissons
- choisir → je choisis, vous choisissez
Regular -RE verbs
Pattern: remove -re, add -s, -s, -, -ons, -ez, -ent
- attendre → j’attends, nous attendons
- vendre → je vends, ils vendent
Key irregular verbs (present)
- etre: je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous etes, ils sont
- avoir: j’ai, tu as, il a, nous avons, vous avez, ils ont
- aller: je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont
- faire: je fais, tu fais, il fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font
- vouloir: je veux, tu veux, il veut, nous voulons, vous voulez, ils veulent
- pouvoir: je peux, tu peux, il peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils peuvent
Since / for with the present tense
French uses the present tense (not the perfect) to describe situations that started in the past and are still going on.
- J’apprends le francais depuis six mois. = I have been learning French for six months.
- Il attend depuis une heure. = He has been waiting for an hour.
Final tip
Focus on the irregular verbs first. They appear in almost every sentence you will hear or say. Once you have etre, avoir, aller, and faire solid, the regular patterns feel much easier.
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