Learning French grammar doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, the French present tense is one of the easiest and most useful tenses to learn—and today, we’re going to make it simple, fun, and stress-free.
You use the present tense to talk about what you’re doing now, what you do every day, and even what you’re going to do soon. Once you understand it, you can start speaking French almost immediately. Let’s dive in!
What Is the French Present Tense? (Think: Right Now & Every Day)
The French present tense (le présent de l’indicatif) is used for:
- things happening right now
- things you do every day
- general facts
- simple instructions
- sometimes even the future
And here’s the fun part French uses just one present tense where English uses two.
| English | French |
| I eat | Je mange |
| I am eating | Je mange |
Easy, right?
When Do We Use the Present Tense in French?
Let’s look at real-life situations where the present tense saves the day.
1. Talking About What’s Happening Now
If it’s happening right now, use the present tense.
Examples:
- I am learning French.
→ J’apprends le français. - She is drinking coffee.
→ Elle boit du café. - We are reading this article.
→ Nous lisons cet article.
Helpful time words:
- now → maintenant
- at the moment → en ce moment
- today → aujourd’hui
2. Daily Habits & Routines (Your Everyday Life in French)
Wake up. Eat. Work. Repeat.
The present tense loves routines.
Examples:
- I wake up at 7 a.m.
→ Je me réveille à 7 heures. - He goes to school every day.
→ Il va à l’école tous les jours. - We watch TV in the evening.
→ Nous regardons la télévision le soir.
Common routine words:
- Toujours (always)
- souvent (often)
- tous les jours (every day)
- d’habitude (Usually)
3. General Truths (Facts That Never Change)
If it’s always true, the present tense is your best friend.
Examples:
- Water boils at 100°C.
→ L’eau bout à 100 degrés. - The sun rises in the east.
→ Le soleil se lève à l’est. - French is spoken in France.
→ On parle français en France.
4. Instructions & Rules (Do This, Then That)
Recipes, directions, and rules all love the present tense.
Examples:
- You add the sugar.
→ Tu ajoutes le sucre. - You turn left.
→ Tu tournes à gauche. - You open the book.
→ Tu ouvres le livre.
It’s like giving friendly instructions in French.
5. Talking About the Near Future (Surprise!)
Yes, French uses the present tense for the future too—when the plan is clear.
Examples:
- I leave tomorrow.
→ Je pars demain. - We meet tonight.
→ Nous nous voyons ce soir. - She starts work next week.
→ Elle commence le travail la semaine prochaine.
Time words do the magic here.
How to Form the French Present Tense (The Easy Part)
French verbs come in three main groups. Don’t worry—we’ll keep it simple.
Group 1: -ER Verbs (Your Best Friends)
These are the most common and the easiest.
Example: parler (to speak)
Remove -er, then add:
| Subject | Ending | Example |
| je | -e | je parle |
| tu | -es | tu parles |
| il / elle | -e | il parle |
| nous | -ons | nous parlons |
| vous | -ez | vous parlez |
| ils / elles | -ent | ils parlent |
More friendly verbs:
- aimer → j’aime
- regarder → nous regardons
- travailler → ils travaillent
Group 2: -IR Verbs (Still Friendly)
Example: finir (to finish)
| Subject | Example |
| je | je finis |
| tu | tu finis |
| il / elle | il finit |
| nous | nous finissons |
| vous | vous finissez |
| ils / elles | ils finissent |
Other verbs:
- choisir
- grandir
- réussir
Group 3: -RE Verbs (Short & Simple)
Example: vendre (to sell)
| Subject | Example |
| je | je vends |
| tu | tu vends |
| il / elle | il vend |
| nous | nous vendons |
| vous | vous vendez |
| ils / elles | ils vendent |
Irregular Verbs (The VIPs of French)
These verbs are small, powerful, and everywhere. Learn them early!
Être (to be)
- je suis
- tu es
- il / elle est
- nous sommes
- vous êtes
- ils / elles sont
Avoir (to have)
- j’ai
- tu as
- il / elle a
- nous avons
- vous avez
- ils / elles ont
Aller (to go)
- je vais
- tu vas
- il / elle va
- nous allons
- vous allez
- ils / elles vont
Common Mistakes
Adding 2 verbs like in English
❌ Je suis mangeant
✔️ Je mange
Forgetting verb endings
❌ Elle parles? ✔️Elle parle
❌ Forgetting the subject
✔️ Always say je, tu, il, elle…
Mistakes are part of learning—so smile and keep going 😄
How to Practice the French Present Tense (Without Getting Bored)
Try this:
- Talk about your day in French
- Describe what you’re doing right now
- Use short, real sentences
- Practice a little every day
Even 5 minutes helps!
You’re Already Speaking French!
The French present tense is simple, powerful, and fun to use. It helps you talk about your life, your habits, and the world around you. Once you master it, French suddenly feels a lot less scary, and a lot more exciting.
So keep practicing, keep smiling, and remember to take lessons with your favourite French teachers at Albert Learning.
