French Grammar Introdution: Tense

Tense

Past

The passe composé is used to report activities that have finished.

	Le chauffeur a arrêté le moteur.	The driver turned the engine off.
	Nous avons marché jusqu'à la gare.	We walk through downtown.
	Le président a donné un discours.	The president gave a speech
	La serveuse m'a amené un verre d’eau. The waitress brought me a glass of water.

The imperfect (see imperfect conjugations) is used to describe background activities, which in the time frame of the story haven't been completed and are ongoing.

	Le président donnait un discours quand il a commencé à pleuvoir . The president was giving a speech when it began to rain.
	Le serveur m'amenait un plat d'escargots, quand il est tombé et a laissé tomber le plat. Les petits escargots étaient partout. A waiter was bringing a plate of snails when he slipped and dropped the plate. The little snails were everywhere..

The imperfect is normally used to describe characteristics or lasting qualities as these tend to be ongoing.

	Le film était très long et ennuyeux.	The woman was tall.
	L'enfant boitait à cause de l'accident.	The child limped because of the accident.

Le Futur

Future

(see future & conditional conjugations)

	J'irai a Marseilles demain.	I will go to Marseilles tomorrow.
	Selon le voyant, vous serez riche et célèbre. According to the the psychic, you will be rich and famous.
	Je ferai toutes les tâches ménagères demain. I will do all the household chores tomorrow.
	Dans l'avenir, les robots travailleront à notre place. Nous serons tous à la plage. In the future, robots will work in our place. We will be at the beach.

Le Conditionnel

Conditional

(see future & conditional conjugations)

	Je t’épouserais si tu n'étais pas un salaud. I would marry you if you weren't a jerk.
	Si je trouve du travail, j'inviterai tout le monde à manger. If I find a job, I would invite everyone to dinner.

Often the conditional is used to politely ask a question, make a suggestion, or request something.

	Je voudrais un verre de vin blanc.	I would like a glass of white wine.
	Pourriez-vous lui parler à ma place?	Could you talk to him for me?

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