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Tense guide
Présent (Present)

Language: French
Tense:
Person:

Practice conjugation drills

Introduction

The French Présent tense is most often used for actions happening right now, just like the English present tense. However, it is much more flexible. You can also use it to talk about habits, general truths, and even events in the near future or recent past. Understanding these different uses is a key step in speaking French naturally.

Use it to describe an action that is happening right now.

Je lis un livre.
(I am reading a book.)
Qu'est-ce que tu fais maintenant ?
(What are you doing now?)
Ils regardent la télévision.
(They are watching television.)
Elle parle au téléphone.
(She is talking on the phone.)

Use it for habits or repeated actions. These are things you do regularly.

Elle va à la piscine tous les samedis.
(She goes to the pool every Saturday.)
Nous prenons toujours le bus.
(We always take the bus.)
Le matin, je bois du café.
(In the morning, I drink coffee.)
Vous travaillez souvent le soir ?
(Do you often work in the evening?)

Use it to state general truths or facts that are always true.

Le soleil se lève à l'est.
(The sun rises in the east.)
L'eau bout à 100 degrés Celsius.
(Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.)
Les poissons vivent dans l'eau.
(Fish live in water.)

Use it to talk about the near future, especially for planned events.

Je pars en vacances demain.
(I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow.)
On mange au restaurant ce soir.
(We are eating at the restaurant tonight.)
Le train arrive dans cinq minutes.
(The train arrives in five minutes.)

Use it to describe an action that started in the past and is still happening now. This pattern often uses the word depuis (since/for).

J'habite ici depuis deux ans.
(I have lived here for two years.)
Il pleut depuis ce matin.
(It has been raining since this morning.)
Nous attendons depuis une heure.
(We have been waiting for an hour.)

Use the present form of the verb *venir* to talk about the very recent past (something that just happened).

Je viens de finir mes devoirs.
(I just finished my homework.)
Elle vient d'appeler.
(She just called.)

Use it in storytelling to describe past events. This narrative present makes the story feel more immediate and alive.

Soudain, l'homme entre dans la pièce.
(Suddenly, the man enters the room.)
Il regarde autour de lui et s'assoit.
(He looks around and sits down.)

Use it in a sentence that starts with si (if) to describe a condition and its likely result.

Si tu as faim, il y a du fromage dans le frigo.
(If you are hungry, there is cheese in the fridge.)
Si je finis tôt, je passe te voir.
(If I finish early, I'll stop by.)

Remember, the French Présent does much more work than the English present tenses. Getting comfortable with these different uses will make your French sound much more natural.

Conjugation patterns