top of page
Search

Mastering the Present Tense in French: A Complete Guide

Writer: Deepshika Dhankher
Deepshika Dhankher
May 12, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Introduction

The present tense in French is one of the most fundamental tenses, used to talk about actions happening now. It also serves as the equivalent of both the present simple and present continuous in English. For example, je parle can mean both I speak and I am speaking.


Table of Contents


1. Formation 2. Usage and Agreement 3. Special Cases and Exceptions 4. Common Mistakes to Avoid 5. Exercises with Answers


1. Formation


French verbs fall into three regular groups based on their infinitive endings: -ER, -IR, and -RE. -ER Verbs (e.g., parler - to speak) To conjugate -ER verbs, drop the -er and add these endings: Je -e → je parle

Tu -es → tu parles

Il/Elle -e → il/elle parle

Nous -ons → nous parlons

Vous -ez → vous parlez

Ils/Elles -ent → ils parlent


-IR Verbs (e.g., finir - to finish)

Drop the -ir and add:

Je -is → je finis

Tu -is → tu finis

Il/Elle -it → il/elle finit Nous -issons → nous finissons Vous -issez → vous finissez Ils/Elles -issent → ils finissent


Regular -IR verbs follow this predictable pattern



-RE Verbs (e.g., vendre - to sell)

Drop the -re and add:

Je -s → je vends Tu -s → tu vends Il/Elle - → il/elle vend Nous -ons → nous vendons Vous -ez → vous vendez Ils/Elles -ent → ils vendent For exceptions and irregular verb conjugations, consult the blog [Click here for link] 2. Usage and Agreement


The present tense is used to express:

  • Current actions (Je travaille – I’m working)


👉 le present in french is equivalent to both Simple present and Present Continuous in English.


So, je parle can mean both, i speak and i am speaking.


3. Special Cases and Exceptions


Certain -ER verbs have spelling changes to maintain pronunciation:


  • -GER verbs (e.g., manger): add an e before -ons in the nous form

    • Nous mangeons

  • -CER verbs (e.g., commencer): the c becomes ç in the nous form

    • Nous commençons

  • -YER verbs (e.g., essayer): the y becomes i in all but the nous and vous forms

    • J’essaie, tu essaies, il essaie, nous essayons, vous essayez, ils essaient


For irregular verbs, refer to the detailed post here: Irregular Verbs – Click here for link


4. Common Mistakes to Avoid


● Forgetting subject-verb agreement

● Mixing up regular and irregular patterns

● Omitting spelling changes (especially for -ger, -cer, -yer)

● Using the wrong tense (e.g., using passé composé when present is needed)


Exceptions


Perfect! Here's a detailed breakdown of exceptional (irregular) French verbs in the present tense, organized into neat tables by type and pattern. These are some of the most commonly used verbs, so mastering them is super useful! 🔹1. Être – to be



🔹2. Avoir – to have




🔹3. Aller – to go




🔹4. Faire – to do/make



🔹5. Prendre – to take



🔹6. Venir – to come



🔹7. Pouvoir – to be able to / can




🔹8. Vouloir – to want





🔹9. Devoir – to have to / must




🔹10. Savoir – to know (a fact)





5. Exercises with Answers


Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense within these sentences:


1. Je _____________(parler) français avec mes amis.

✅ parle

✅ finissons

✅ vendent

✅ as

✅ va

✅ faites

✅ choisit

✅ prends

✅ attendons

✅ mangeons

✅ commençons

✅ boivent

✅ dors

✅ partent

✅ viens

✅ écrivez

✅ lit

✅ disons

✅ vois

✅ savent

✅ mets

✅ connaît

✅ ouvrons

✅ cours

✅ tiens

✅ vivons

✅ reçoivent

✅ riez

✅ envoie

✅ paient


Recent Posts

See All
The Complete Guide to French Passé Composé

Want to talk about what you did yesterday in French? You'll need the passé composé! This essential French past tense might seem tricky at first, but once you understand the patterns, you'll be describ

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page