Indicative in French
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The indicative (French: l'indicatif) is a personal mood and you use it to talk about life in general. It has 8 tenses.
- le présent
- l'imparfait
- le passé simple
- le futur simple
- le passé composé
- le plus-que-parfait
- le passé antérieur
- le futur antérieur
Lesson outline
HideThe present tense
The present (French: le présent) is used to express what is happening at the moment we talk.
Its endings are various depending of the group verbs:
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) |
|---|---|---|
| je/j' | aime | grandis |
| tu | aimes | grandis |
| il/elle/on | aime | grandit |
| nous | aimons | grandissons |
| vous | aimez | grandissez |
| ils/elles | aiment | grandissent |
Note that the 3rd group verbs have three different endings.
| 3rd group verbs | general | prendre (to take) | pouvoir (can) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | mets | prends | peux |
| tu | mets | prends | peux |
| il/elle/on | met | prend | peut |
| nous | mettons | prenons | pouvons |
| vous | mettez | prenez | pouvez |
| ils/elles | mettent | prennent | peuvent |
All infinitive verbs ending in -dre conjugate like "prendre" except 'joindre' (to join)
'Valoir' (to worth) and 'vouloir' (want) also conjugate like "pouvoir"
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The imperfect
The imperfect (French: l'imparfait) expresses an action or fact that already happened at the moment we talk but is still progressing.
The endings of the imperfect are the same for all group verbs
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: mettre (to put) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je/j' | aimais | grandissais | mettais |
| tu | aimais | grandissais | mettais |
| il/elle/on | aimait | grandissait | mettait |
| nous | aimions | grandissions | mettions |
| vous | aimiez | grandissiez | mettiez |
| ils/elles | aimaient | grandissaient | mettaient |
The literary past tense
The literary past tense (French: le passé simple) expresses a completed action in the past.
The endings are various depending on the group verbs.
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) |
|---|---|---|
| je/j' | aimai | grandis |
| tu | aimas | grandis |
| il/elle/on | aima | grandit |
| nous | aimâmes | grandîmes |
| vous | aimâtes | grandîtes |
| ils/elles | aimèrent | grandirent |
Note that for the 3rd group verbs, there are 3 different endings:
| 3rd group verbs | prendre (to take) | venir (to come) | croire (to believe) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | pris | vins | crus |
| tu | pris | vins | crus |
| il/elle/on | prit | vint | crut |
| nous | prîmes | vînmes | crûmes |
| vous | prîtes | vîntes | crûtes |
| ils/elles | prirent | vinrent | crurent |
The future simple
The future simple (French: le futur simple) is used when you want to talk about a fact or an action in the near future. It didn't happen yet at the moment of speaking.
The endings of the future simple are the same for all group verbs:
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: mettre (to put) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je/j' | aimerai | grandirai | mettrai |
| tu | aimeras | grandiras | mettras |
| il/elle/on | aimera | grandira | mettra |
| nous | aimerons | grandirons | mettrons |
| vous | aimerez | grandirez | mettrez |
| ils/elles | aimeront | grandiront | mettront |
The future of the verb 'aller' is: irai, iras, ira, irons, irez, iront.
The past completed
The past completed (French: le passé composé) is a used when you want to talk in the past about a fact or an action that already happened at the moment of speaking.
It is formed with an auxiliary avoir or être conjugated in the present tense and the past participle.
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: partir (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je/j' | ai aimé | ai grandi | suis parti(e) |
| tu | as aimé | as grandi | es parti(e) |
| il/elle/on | a aimé | a grandi | est parti(e) |
| nous | avons aimé | avons grandi | sommes partis(e) |
| vous | avez aimé | avez grandi | êtes partis(e) |
| ils/elles | ont aimé | ont grandi | sont partis(e) |
The pluperfect
The pluperfect (French: le plus-que-parfait) is used to accentuate on the anteriority of a fact or an action related to a past action. In this case, you can either use it with the past completed or the literary past tense.
It is formed with an auxiliary avoir or être conjugated in the imperfect tense and the past participle.
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: partir (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| j' | avais aimé | avais grandi | étais parti(e) |
| tu | avais aimé | avais grandi | étais parti(e) |
| il/elle/on | avait aimé | avait grandi | était parti(e) |
| nous | avions aimé | avions grandi | étions partis(e) |
| vous | aviez aimé | aviez grandi | étiez partis(e) |
| ils/elles | avaient aimé | avaient grandi | étaient partis(e) |
The past anterior
The past anterior (French: le passé antérieur) is always used with the past simple to accentuate the anteriority of a completed action.
It is formed with the auxiliary avoir or être conjugated in the past simple and the past participle.
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: partir (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| j' | eu aimé | eu grandi | fus parti(e) |
| tu | eus aimé | eus grandi | fus parti(e) |
| il/elle/on | eut aimé | eut grandi | fut parti(e) |
| nous | eûmes aimé | eûmes grandi | fûmes partis(e) |
| vous | eûtes aimé | eûtes grandi | fûtes partis(e) |
| ils/elles | eurent aimé | eurent grandi | furent partis(e) |
The future perfect
The future perfect (French: le futur antérieur) has two uses: it can be used all alone in this case, it expresses a fact or an action which will be completed at the moment. It can be used along with the future simple, in this case, it expresses an action that will happen after a second action.
It is formed with the auxiliary avoir or être conjugated in the future simple and the past participle.
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: partir (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| j' | aurai aimé | aurai grandi | serai parti(e) |
| tu | auras aimé | auras grandi | seras parti(e) |
| il/elle/on | aura aimé | aura grandi | sera parti(e) |
| nous | aurons aimé | aurons grandi | serons partis(e) |
| vous | aurez aimé | aurez grandi | serez partis(e) |
| ils/elles | auront aimé | auront grandi | seront partis(e) |
The near future
Even if the near future (French: le futur proche) is not considered as a tense, the French grammar use it to talk about an action that will take place very soon.
It is formed with the verb aller conjugated in the present tense and the infinitive of the verb.
| Pronouns | 1st group verb: aimer (to like) | 2nd group verb: grandir (to grow) | 3rd group verb: partir (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | vais aimer | vais grandir | vais partir |
| tu | vas aimer | vas grandir | vas partir |
| il/elle/on | va aimer | va grandir | va partir |
| nous | allons aimer | allons grandir | allons partir |
| vous | allez aimer | allez grandir | allez partir |
| ils/elles | vont aimer | vont grandir | vont partir |
Verbs that uses the auxiliary être agrees in gender and number.
Learn more about the past participle by clicking the link.
Learn about the conjugation of avoir and être to form the compound times.
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My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
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Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
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I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
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Lowella V.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
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My name is Ilaria, I am 30 years old, I have a post-graduate Master in Linguistic Education at the Ca'Foscari University of Venice. I currently teach Italian to foreigners online.
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In the first lesson I try to get an impression of the students, their attitude, cognitive style, needs, level of exposure to the language, motivation etc. I try an inductive - conversational approach first, I plan every lesson and I provide the student with a Google Drive file, anticipating contents and activities.Mostly I tend to work on what it's best for the students (ex. some of them prefer learning tables with grammar rules, verbs etc by heart, I make them understand that this is not considered the fastest nor most efficient way generally, but if it works for them I encourage it). I always try to make them capable of learn by their own and I want them to see me as a facilitator, a guide, not "the person who owns the knowledge". I keep my students focused by constantly stimulating them, asking questions, asking them to share thoughts and formulate hypotheses. Also I always provide explanations for what I do, why I do it in a certain way and at a certain time. I also use a manual.
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I am Diane a language tutor that has been helping students of any age and race and I am also a TEFL certified instructor.
Since I am a native Filipino Speaker, I can teach my students conversational Tagalog which includes 1 grammar rule per lesson and pronunciation as well as vocabulary to enable them to communicate with people when they travel to other places or simply with people not from their country. Aside from conversations, we will talk about our culture, cuisine and tourist spots. When I teach I use role play, dialogue, games, Audio/video files and the like which will engage my students well.
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Diane G.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
A. .
I am very happy with Tiska's lessons, they are well-structured and interesting. She gives some homework, so I can continue my practice after the lesson. I strongly recommend her as a teacher.
Tiska G.
*** Please note that I am on holidays in august***
Bonjour ! Comment ça va ?
My name is Lou, and I would be happy to be your french teacher !
French classes are for all levels, beginner to advanced. I can help you prepare to french exams and I also offer conversation classes.
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