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You are here: Home / Learn French / French Grammar / How to Master the French Present Tense Once and for All
How to Master the French Present Tense Once and for All

How to Master the French Present Tense Once and for All

by Benjamin Houy 13 Comments

The French present tense is the only tense you truly need to know to get by on a trip to France.

You can use it to talk about the present of course but the French sometimes use it to talk about future events as well.

And while it has the reputation of being illogical and hard to master, nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, you can master the present tense conjugation of most French verbs in a matter of weeks if you focus on learning the most common conjugation patterns first.

After reading this article, you’ll know exactly when to use the French present tense and how to quickly master it (oh and the free bonus at the end will help you make sure it doesn’t take forever).

Contents

  • 1 When should you use the French present tense?
    • 1.1 To talk about what you’re doing and how you’re feeling
    • 1.2 To talk about habits and facts
    • 1.3 To talk about what’s about to happen
  • 2 How to conjugate the French present tense?
    • 2.1 Regular verbs
    • 2.2 Pronoun
    • 2.3 Ending
    • 2.4 Example
    • 2.5 Pronoun
    • 2.6 Ending
    • 2.7 Example
    • 2.8 Pronoun
    • 2.9 Ending
    • 2.10 Example
    • 2.11 The dreaded irregular verbs
  • 3 How to memorize all these crazy conjugations?
  • 4 Practice the present tense in the comment section below

When should you use the French present tense?

The French present tense is used much more often than its English counterpart. For example, you would use it to talk about:

  • What’s happening and how you’re feeling
  • Habits and facts
  • What’s going to happen soon

To talk about what you’re doing and how you’re feeling

You can use the French present tense to talk about what’s happening as you’re speaking.

For example, you would use it to say you’re eating a jambon beurre (ham butter) sandwich or to describe anything happening as you speak.

This makes it the equivalent of the English present tense as well as of the present progressive (be + ing form).

Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? Je mange

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/quest-ce-que-tu-fais-je-mange.mp3

What are you doing? I’m eating/ I eat

To talk about habits and facts

Naturally, you can also use the French present tense to talk about habits, facts, and universal truths. Just like in English.

Quel genre de musique est-ce que tu aimes ?

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/quel-genre-de-musique-est-ce-que-tu-aimes.mp3

J’aime beaucoup la musique classique

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/jaime-beaucoup-la-musique-classique.mp3

What kind of music do you like?

I really like classical music

To talk about what’s about to happen

If you know an event is going to happen in a few hours, days or more rarely weeks, you can use the French present tense to talk about it.

In this case, you usually add words such as “demain” (tomorrow), “lundi” (Monday) or “la semaine prochaine” (next week).

Je retourne à Londres demain

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/je-retourne-a-londres-demain.mp3

I’m going back to London tomorrow

Let me let you in on a little secret now!

As a beginner, you can also use the French present tense to talk about events that are far in the future as long as you use a phrase such as “l’année prochaine” (next year) to add context.

While this isn’t grammatically correct, people won’t have any problem understanding you and this is an easy way to talk about the future if you don’t know how to conjugate the French future tense yet.

How to conjugate the French present tense?

Conjugating verbs in the French present tense is simply a matter of using the right ending.

Before you start learning the endings of French verbs, you need to know that there are two kinds of French verbs.

  • regular verbs
  • irregular verbs.

Regular verbs

Regular verbs follow a pattern you can quickly learn.

Once you know the endings of the three different kinds of regular verbs, you can easily conjugate the large majority of French verbs which is why learning these regular patterns should be your number one priority.

French regular verbs come in three flavors:

  • Verbs ending in ER
  • Verbs ending in IR
  • Verbs ending in RE

Now let’s see what patterns these verbs follow!

Regular verbs ending in ER

It’s estimated that 90% of French verbs end in ER.

If you know how to conjugate ER verbs, you will be able to conjugate most French verbs in the present tense.

Pretty awesome, right?

Note: one rebellious ER verb decided to be irregular: aller (to go).

This is a common French verb, so you have to learn to conjugate it separately. I apologize on behalf of the French population.

Pronoun

Ending

Example

Jeemange
Tuesmanges
Il/elle/onemange
Nousonsmangeons
Vousezmangez
Ils/ellesentmangent

This may look like a lot of endings for just one tense but these forms are all pronounced the same way (except for “mangez” and “mangeons” so you only have three pronunciations to remember.

Je mange un gâteau

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/je-mange-un-gateau.mp3

I’m eating a cake

Tu manges un gâteau

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tu-manges-un-gateau.mp3

You (singular) are eating a cake

Il/elle/on mange un gâteau

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ilelleon-mange-un-gateau.mp3

He/she is eating a cake

Nous mangeons un gâteau

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/nous-mangeons-un-gateau.mp3

We are eating a cake

Vous mangez un gâteau

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/vous-mangez-un-gateau.mp3

You (plural or polite form) are eating a cake

Ils/elles mangent un gâteau

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ils-mangent-un-gateau.mp3

They’re eating a cake

Regular verbs ending in IR

IR verbs are estimated to represent 5% of French verbs.

These are the patterns that regular IR verbs follow, but there are also some irregular IR verbs like “venir” (to come).

Pronoun

Ending

Example

Jeisfinis
Tuisfinis
Il/elle/onitfinit
Nousissonsfinissons
Vousissezfinissez
Ils/ellesissentfinissent

Je finis à 20 heures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/je-finis-a-20-heures.mp3

I finish (work) at 8PM

Tu finis à 20 heures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tu-finis-a-20-heures.mp3

You (singular) finish at 8PM

Il/elle/on finit à 20 heures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ilelleon-finit-a-20-heures.mp3

He/she finishes at 8PM

Nous finissons à 20 heures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/nous-finissons-a-20-heures.mp3

We finish at 8PM

Vous finissez à 20 heures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/vous-finissez-a-20-heures.mp3

You (plural or polite form) finish at 8PM

Ils/elles finissent à 20 heures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ils-finissent-a-20-heures.mp3

They finish at 8PM

Regular verbs ending in RE

Regular RE verbs follow the following pattern:

Pronoun

Ending

Example

Jesvends
Tusvends
Il/elle/on–vend
Nousonsvendons
Vousezvendez
Ils/ellesentvendent

Je vends des fleurs

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/je-vends-des-fleurs.mp3

I sell flowers

Tu vends du chocolat

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tu-vends-du-chocolat.mp3

You sell chocolate

Il/elle/on vend des voitures

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ilelleon-vend-des-voitures.mp3

He sells cars

Nous vendons des vêtements

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/nous-vendons-des-vetements.mp3

We sell clothes

Vous vendez des bougies ?

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/vous-vendez-des-bougies.mp3

Do you sell candles?

Ils/elles vendent de tout

https://frenchtogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ils-vendent-de-tout.mp3

They sell a little bit of everything

The dreaded irregular verbs

Unlike regular verbs, irregular French verbs don’t follow the patterns mentioned above, so you have to learn the conjugation of each irregular verb individually.

However, you don’t have to learn how to conjugate every irregular verb there is. Learning the most common ones is largely enough when you begin learning French.

Like the 100 most common French words, these are verbs you will find in most conversations.

For example, “avoir” (to have) and “être” (to be) are said to be found in more than 20% of French sentences.

The following irregular verbs are the most common irregular French verbs and the irregular verbs I recommend you learn first.

Avoir

Conjugation
Translation
J’aiI have
Tu asYou have
Il/elle/on aHe/she has
Nous avonsWe have
Vous avezYou have
Ils/elles ontThey have

Être

Conjugation
Translation
Je suisI am
Tu esYou are
Il/elle/on estHe/she is
Nous sommesWe are
Vous êtesYou are
Ils/elles sontThey are

Aller

Conjugation
Translation
Je vaisI go
Tu vasYou go
Il/elle/on vaHe/she goes
Nous allonsWe go
Vous allezYou go
Ils/elles vontThey go

Faire

Conjugation
Translation
Je faisI do
Tu faisYou do
Il/elle/on faitHe/she does
Nous faisonsWe do
Vous faitesYou do
Ils/elles fontThey do

Vouloir

Conjugation
Translation
Je veuxI want
Tu veuxYou want
Il/elle/on veutHe/she wants
Nous voulonsWe want
Vous voulezYou want
Ils/elles veulentThey want

Pouvoir

Conjugation
Translation
Je peuxI can
Tu peuxYou can
Il/elle/on peutHe/she can
Nous pouvonsWe can
Vous pouvezYou can
Ils/elles peuventThey can

How to memorize all these crazy conjugations?

Learning the French present tense is essential. But you don’t need to spend hours reciting conjugations tables to master it.

Here is what I recommend you do instead:

  • Learn the regular patterns of ER, IR and RE verbs
  • Learn the common irregular verbs listed on this page
  • Regularly get exposure to the French language and you’ll naturally learn to conjugate the remaining verbs

Practice the present tense in the comment section below

Now that you know the theory, it’s time to practice.

Choose a verb and create a sentence with it in the comment section below this article!

Filed Under: French Grammar Tagged With: Beginner French, French Pronunciation Audio

Avatar for Benjamin Houy

About Benjamin Houy

Benjamin Houy is a native French speaker and the founder of French Together. He helps English speakers learn the 20% of French they need to understand 80% of conversations and speak French with confidence.When he is not busy creating content for French Together, he can be found writing about copywriting on Copy Puzzle.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Vita

    September 28, 2018 at 8:51 am

    Merci! Benjamin. Your information via emails is very appreciated.

    Reply
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      suh silinker sirri

      December 14, 2018 at 10:06 am

      thank you

      Reply
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    Rae Donaldson

    August 2, 2018 at 8:29 pm

    Missed out ‘plus’!

    Reply
  3. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    kieran

    May 14, 2018 at 12:46 pm

    Thanks this saved my life in my test whew

    Reply
  4. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Carl Hubbard

    April 28, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    Congratulations, Benjamin, on making this course easy and direct – having been away from it for so long, I suddenly have a most wonderful reason to refresh my vocab and everything else too! When I see your emails come through, I just know you will help me refresh with confidence.
    Merci!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Fedoua

    April 26, 2018 at 10:51 pm

    this is so hopeful. thank u very much

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  6. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Gerry McLaughlin

    April 26, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    I recently went to France, and having listened to your course on a CD a million times, I was confident enough to speak to French people in their language even when they spoke to me in English. I found that if you start off in French they will be very helpful and will speak more slowly and clearly than normal. It has made me more enthusiastic about the language and I am keen to return there before too long. Thanks for your help, and these very useful e-mails. There is nothing better than hearing someone saying the words in French.

    Reply
  7. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Jenny

    April 26, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    Example sentence: Nous mangeons un repas délicieux!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Katiana

    April 26, 2018 at 6:28 pm

    Cela n’aurait pas pu être mieux expliqué. Merci Benjamin!

    Reply
  9. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Sim

    June 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    c’est bon pour tout qui veut apprendre français, mais j’ai un question. il a dit que utilisez le present quand parler des sentiments, mais nous avons subjontif pour les sentiments

    Reply
  10. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Stefan

    February 7, 2017 at 2:33 pm

    the recordings are great, helpful and very beautiful voice! thanks for this site 🙂

    Reply
  11. Avatar for Benjamin Houy

    Anon

    January 2, 2017 at 2:31 am

    I think the ils/elles form of vouloir is wrong. It should be ils/elles veulent, not vont 🙂

    Reply
    • Avatar for Benjamin Houy

      Benjamin Houy

      January 2, 2017 at 11:06 am

      Ah yes, you’re right of course. Thanks, it’s corrected 🙂

      Reply

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