Grammar / The present indicative

The present indicative tense is used to describe something that is happening at the time of speaking, now, today. It is also used to describe or to talk about a habit.                                         

Verbs ending in -er

• Most French verbs have their infinitive ending in -er
• Structure: stem + endings e, es, e, ons, ez, ent

Example: the verb “passer”

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Je	passe
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Tu	passes
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Il/Elle/On	passe
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Nous	passons
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Vous	passez
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ils/Elles	passent

Irregularities:

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The verb “aller”	Irregular verbs: The verbs “aller” and “venir”
Verbs ending in -ger (“manger” ,  “voyager”)	With “nous”: nous mangeons, nous voyageons.
Verbs ending in -cer (“commencer”)	With “nous”: nous commençons

 

Verbs ending in -ir

• Structure: stem + endings s, s, t, ons, ez, ent

Example 1: the verb “sortir” (like: “partir”, “dormir”)

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Je	sors
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Tu	sors
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Il/Elle/On	sort
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Nous		sortons
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Vous		sortez
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ils/Elles		sortent

Example 2: the verb “finir” (like: “choisir”, “réfléchir”)  

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Je	finis
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Tu	finis
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Il/Elle/On	finit
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Nous		finissons
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Vous		finissez
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ils/Elles		finissent

Some verbs are conjugated in the same way:

Verbs ending in -re, -dre, -ire, oir -re, -dre, -ire, oir

• Most verbs have different stems.
• Structure: stem + endings s, s, t, ons, ez, ent

Example: the verb “devoir” 

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Je	dois
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Tu	dois
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Il/Elle/On	doit
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Nous	devons
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Vous	devez
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ils/Elles	doivent

 
Irregularities:

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The verbs “pouvoir” and “vouloir”	have the endings x, x, t, ons, ez, ent
In the case of the verb “prendre” and its derivatives (“comprendre”, “apprendre”)	the -t ending does not apply to “il/elle/on”.

Example: the verb “pouvoir”

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Je	peux
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Tu	peux
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Il/Elle/On	peut
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Nous	pouvons
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Vous	pouvez
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ils/Elles	peuvent

For more information: the verbs pouvoir, vouloir and devoir.

Example: the verb “comprendre”

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Je	comprends
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Tu	comprends
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Il/Elle/On	comprend
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Nous	comprenons
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Vous	comprenez
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ils/Elles	comprennent

For more information: the verbs attendre and prendre.