FRENCH GRAMMAR EXERCICES & LESSONS


PRESENT TENSE
-er, -ir, -oir...

Conjugation of Regular Verbs in the Present Indicative

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To conjugate a regular verb in the present indicative, you need to remove the "-er" ending from the infinitive and add the appropriate ending for the subject pronoun. Here is the conjugation of the regular verb "parler" (to speak) in the present indicative:

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• Je parle (I speak)

• Tu parles (You speak)

• Il/elle/on parle (He/she/one speaks)

• Nous parlons (We speak)

• Vous parlez (You speak)

• Ils/elles parlent (They speak)

 

As you can see, the endings for the subject pronouns "je," "tu," "il/elle/on," "nous," "vous," and "ils/elles" are "-e," "-es," "-e," "-ons," "-ez," and "-ent," respectively. These endings are the same for all regular "-er" verbs in the present indicative tense.

 

 

Conjugation of Irregular Verbs in the Present Indicative

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While regular verbs follow a predictable pattern in the present indicative, irregular verbs have unique conjugations that must be memorized. Here are some examples of irregular verbs in the present indicative:

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• Être (to be)

  • Je suis (I am)

  • Tu es (You are)

  • Il/elle/on est (He/she/one is)

  • Nous sommes (We are)

  • Vous êtes (You are)

  • Ils/elles sont (They are)

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• Avoir (to have)

  • J'ai (I have)

  • Tu as (You have)

  • Il/elle/on a (He/she/one has)

  • Nous avons (We have)

  • Vous avez (You have)

  • Ils/elles ont (They have)

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• Aller (to go)

  • Je vais (I go)

  • Tu vas (You go)

  • Il/elle/on va (He/she/one goes)

  • Nous allons (We go)

  • Vous allez (You go)

  • Ils/elles vont (They go)

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• Faire (to do/make)

  • Je fais (I do/make)

  • Tu fais (You do/make)

  • Il/elle/on fait (He/she/one does/makes)

  • Nous faisons (We do/make)

  • Vous faites (You do/make)

  • Ils/elles font (They do/make)

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As you can see, irregular verbs have unique conjugations that do not follow the same pattern as regular verbs. However, many common irregular verbs are used so frequently that their conjugations become second nature to French learners.

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Uses of the Present Indicative

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The present indicative is used in a variety of contexts to describe actions, events, and situations that are happening in the present moment. Here are some common uses of the present indicative in French:

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1. Describing current actions: The present indicative is used to describe actions that are currently happening. For example: "Je mange une pomme" (I am eating an apple).

2. Expressing habitual actions: The present indicative can also be used to describe actions that happen regularly. For example: "Je vais à la gym tous les jours" (I go to the gym every day).

3. Expressing general truths: The present indicative is also used to express general truths or facts that are always true. For example: "L'eau bout à 100 degrés Celsius" (Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius).

4. Expressing future actions: While the future tense is typically used to describe future actions, the present indicative can also be used in certain contexts to describe future actions. For example: "Demain, je vais chez le médecin" (Tomorrow, I am going to the doctor).

5. Describing emotions and mental states: The present indicative can also be used to describe emotions and mental states that are currently being experienced. For example: "Je suis triste" (I am sad).

6. Expressing orders and instructions: The present indicative is often used in imperative sentences to give orders and instructions. For example: "Fermez la porte" (Close the door).

7. Overall, the present indicative is a versatile and important tense in French, and mastering its conjugation and usage is essential for effective communication in the language. By practicing the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs and learning the common uses of this tense, learners can become confident and skilled in expressing themselves in the present moment.

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