Here are all the 14 tenses/moods. In the left column the simple ones, i.e. single word tenses/moods. In the right column are found the compound ones i.e. two word tenses/moods formed by the combination of an auxiliary verb (etre [to be] OR avoir [to have] in one of their simple tense forms) + the past participle of the verb being conjugated. Examples given using voir [to see] in the first person singular i.e. Je [I]
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NOTE; The English translations of the tense examples are sometimes written in Franglais in order to give an idea of the workings of the complex tenses and because often there is a lack of a good English alternative.
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SIMPLE TENSES/MOODS
Présent ~ Je vois - I see/ I am seeing (used much more than the English Present tense)
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COMPOUND TENSES/MOODS
Passé Composé ~ J'ai vu - I saw/ I have seen (more or less the combination of the English Preterit and Perfect tenses, at least in oral French.) Note that it is mostly translated as the former (preterit - I saw.)
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Passé Simple ~ Je vis - I saw (literary. Used mostly in writing where we would use the preterit. The French intro to the Lord of the rings film (the bit where he explains about the origins of the nine rings) is just full of it. (see bottom of page for demonstration)
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Plus-Que-Parfait ~ J'avais vu - I had seen (this is the HAD tense)
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Imparfait ~ Je voyais - I used to see/ I was seeing/ I would see/ (and just occasionally) I saw (This is the WAS/ WERE/ USED.TO/ WOULD(non conditional) tense. This is a very common tense in speech and so you will need to understand it, particularly how it differs from the PASSÉ COMPOSÉ)
For a more indepth look at this important tense click here. |
Passé Anterior ~ J'eus vu - I saw/ I had seen (literary - used in place of the plus-que-parfait above in high brow writing after certain trigger words: après que, aussitôt que, dès que, lorsque, or quand [source: about.com])
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Futur ~ Je verrai - I will see (This is the WILL tense)
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Futur Anterior ~ J'aurai vu - I will have seen (this is the WILL HAVE tense)
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Conditionnel ~ Je verrais - I would see (This is the WOULD tense. Note: the pronunciation of this is almost indistinguishible to that of the Futur in the first person singular)
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Conditionnel Passé ~ J'aurais vu - I would have seen (This is the WOULD HAVE tense/mood. To the ear this tense is practically indistinguishible from the futur anterior in the first person singular)
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Subjonctif ~ Que je voie - that I see (almost extinct in English though there are a few examples still kicking around with the verb 'to be' : 'I hope that it be good' as opposed to 'I hope that it is good.' Triggered by certain 'wishy washy' words like hope (negative only), want, need, fear... etc that are followed by 'que' and then a subject pronoun i.e. 'je veux qu'il vienne' [I want that he come] or [I want him to come]
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Passé Du Subjonctif ~ que j'aie vu - that I saw/ that I have seen. Used in place of the subjonctif when the action/omission being wished/ feared/ needed... etc was being wanted/ feared/ needed to have taken place before the said wishing/ fearing/ needing had been initiated. Example 'Je veux qu'il soit venu' [I want that he has(be) come] OR [I want him to have(be) come (already)]
((something tells me I should have chosen a verb other than 'to come')) |
Imparfait Du Subjonctif ~ Que je visse - that I see/ that I was seeing (Literary - used in place of the subjonctif in formal writing where the 'wishy washy' trigger words are formulated in a past tense form. i.e 'je voulais qu'il vînt' [I was wanting that he was coming OR that he come] ((innuendo alert))
This is the tense that the French struggle with the most. If asked 'what is the imparfait du subjonctif of faire in the first person singular, i.e. que je ...............?' only one in ten get it right (I know this for a fact, because I used to ask it at social gatherings (aka piss-ups) just to see em squirm baby, just to see em squirm. The answer is fisse by the way, not that anyone really cares. |
Plus-Que-Parfait Du Subjonctif ~ que j'eusse vu - that I had seen This one, the last and the most tenuous, is used in high brow writing in place of the Passé Du Subjonctif when the wishing/ fearing/ needing... etc as described above has itself taken place in the past: 'J'ai voulu qu'il fût venu.' [I wanted that he had(was) come]. Sometimes this tense is used in this 'fancy writing' to replace both the Plus-que-parfait and the Passé Conditionnel in si clauses. Here is an example that I found at a site of the Quebec office for the French language:
"Si j'eusse compris ce qu'elle voulait dire, j'eusse réagi tout autrement." [If I had understood what she was wanting to say(meant), I would have reacted completely differently.] |
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THE OTHERS
(good film, that one)
(good film, that one)
Certain forms of a verb are not seen in the 14 tense/mood line up. And, as if by magic, here they are...
Imperatif (Présent)
Verbs in the Imperatif are used to tell others to do or not do something and thus the Je [I] form doesent exist (you can't order yourself to do something... unless you're schizo of course.) Here they are for Aller [to go] Va (TU) - go! (YOU singular AND informal) Allons (NOUS) Let's go! (WE) Allez (VOUS) go! (YOU plural OR formal) |
Imperatif (Passé)
(what I said to the left applies here with one additional note: THIS ONE'S DAMN RARE) Here they are for Aller [to go] Sois allé (TU) - Be gone! (YOU) (singular AND informal) Soyons allé (NOUS) - Let's be gone! (WE) Soyez allé (VOUS) - Be gone! (YOU plural OR formal) NOTE: You will never come across these (almost guaranteed.) Not sure the French actually know they exist. |
Infinitif (Présent)
Perhaps the most important form of a verb. The infitive of voir is voir [to see] and the infinitive of aller is... erm... aller [to go]. You get the idea... |
Infinitif (Passé)
For aller it is etre allé [being gone/ having gone // to be gone/ to have gone] EXAMPLE: Je pense que d'être allé à Montpellier était une excellente idée. [I think that to be gone OR to have gone to Montpellier was an excellent idea.] For voir it is avoir vu [having seen/ to have seen] EXAMPLE: J'ai eu l'occasion de lire Les Dents de la Mer après avoir vu le film. [I had the occasion to read Jaws, after having seen the film.] NOTE: of all that I've said so far, this is the thing that I'm most unsure of as I get confused with long version of the participe passé: ayant vu (see below) |
Participe (Présent)
For aller it is allant [going] EXAMPLE: Le chat a été vu, allant d'une maison a un autre. [the cat was seen going from one house to another] For voir it is voyant [seeing] EXAMPLE: Voyant qu'il est filmé, un bandit se met à pleurer [In seeing that he is filmed (being filmed) a bandit(crook) begins to cry] (SOURCE: sentence found somewhere in googleland) |
Participe (passé)
For aller it is allé [gone] OR etant allé [having (being) gone] EXAMPLE: Etant allé a plusieurs reprises au Cameleon d'Arabian et ayant testé la cuisine "ephemere" italienne j'ai été surpris par votre deception. [having gone many times to The Cameleon d'Arabian and having tested the ephemeral italian cuisine (there), I was surprised by your disappointment] For voir it is vu [seen] OR ayant vu [having seen] EXAMPLE: Ayant vu le film, nous ne pouvons que le recommander... [having seen the film, we cannot but reccommend it...] NOTE: It is with the past participle of each verb that one forms the Compound tenses. (in conjucntion with avoir/etre acting as auxiliary) i.e. do you see the vu just above. You will notice that it appears in all the composed forms of voir [to see] as seen in this conjugation table. |
NOTE: The past participle of a French verb can also be used as an adjective to qualify (change) the meaning of a noun. When in this role it is a:
Past Participle Adjective
EXAMPLE: La couleur vue de haut [the colour seen from above]
As can be seen, when used as an adjective the past participle has to match the noun it's qualifying in number and gender. Here, couleur is feminine singular and so an e is added to the past participle vu to make it itself feminine singular as well.
And that's it. No more forms to learn. Not that complicated, was it?
Liars! You'll get over it... or perhaps not...
In fact, it's me who lied. I haven't done the PASSIVE VOICE conjugations yet. I'll get round to it... eventually...
Anyways, if you want to see all of these verb forms in action then CLICK HERE to see a parallel text that I'm making of a famous Sherlock Holmes short story where I highlight every use of a verb, stating its congugation and giving its translation in the context of the story itself.
Oh, by the by, here is the LOR extract I promised earlier
Lord of the Rings, extract from the French film (source: http://seigneurdesaneau.skyrock.com)
Labeling of tenses done by Simpetweb (that's me!)
"Tout commença (PASSÉ SIMPLE iii PERS SING) lorsque les grand anneaux furents forgés (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE iii PERS PLUR).
Trois furent donnés (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE iii PERS PLUR) aux Elfes, les plus sages et les plus respectables de tous les être;
Sept,aux Seigneurs Nains, grands mineurs et sculpteurs de la montagne;
Et neuf, neuf anneaux furent donnés à la race des Hommes, qui par-dessus tout désiraient (IMPARFAIT III PERS PLUR) le pouvoir.
Car à travers ces anneaux, furents transmises (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE iii PERS PLUR)
la force et la volontée de gouverner chaque race, mais ils furent tous dupés (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE III PERS PLUR) car un autre anneau fut forgé (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE III PERS SING)..."
Past Participle Adjective
EXAMPLE: La couleur vue de haut [the colour seen from above]
As can be seen, when used as an adjective the past participle has to match the noun it's qualifying in number and gender. Here, couleur is feminine singular and so an e is added to the past participle vu to make it itself feminine singular as well.
And that's it. No more forms to learn. Not that complicated, was it?
Liars! You'll get over it... or perhaps not...
In fact, it's me who lied. I haven't done the PASSIVE VOICE conjugations yet. I'll get round to it... eventually...
Anyways, if you want to see all of these verb forms in action then CLICK HERE to see a parallel text that I'm making of a famous Sherlock Holmes short story where I highlight every use of a verb, stating its congugation and giving its translation in the context of the story itself.
Oh, by the by, here is the LOR extract I promised earlier
Lord of the Rings, extract from the French film (source: http://seigneurdesaneau.skyrock.com)
Labeling of tenses done by Simpetweb (that's me!)
"Tout commença (PASSÉ SIMPLE iii PERS SING) lorsque les grand anneaux furents forgés (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE iii PERS PLUR).
Trois furent donnés (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE iii PERS PLUR) aux Elfes, les plus sages et les plus respectables de tous les être;
Sept,aux Seigneurs Nains, grands mineurs et sculpteurs de la montagne;
Et neuf, neuf anneaux furent donnés à la race des Hommes, qui par-dessus tout désiraient (IMPARFAIT III PERS PLUR) le pouvoir.
Car à travers ces anneaux, furents transmises (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE iii PERS PLUR)
la force et la volontée de gouverner chaque race, mais ils furent tous dupés (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE III PERS PLUR) car un autre anneau fut forgé (PASSÉ SIMPLE PASSIVE VOICE III PERS SING)..."
THE TOP TEN MOST INTERESTING
French Language Music Artists
Since 2000
French language music has always had a bit of a reputation for being naff among English speaking peoples. To rebuke those accusations I therefore present some shockingly good modern era music artists (Frenchies who still sing in French, who'd have thought..). The list is accompanied with individually playable YouTube videos so you can quickly sample and decide for yourselves.
I have also written a ditty on each artist, not that anyone reads now-a-days.
French Language Music Artists
Since 2000
French language music has always had a bit of a reputation for being naff among English speaking peoples. To rebuke those accusations I therefore present some shockingly good modern era music artists (Frenchies who still sing in French, who'd have thought..). The list is accompanied with individually playable YouTube videos so you can quickly sample and decide for yourselves.
I have also written a ditty on each artist, not that anyone reads now-a-days.
MY SPOTIFY AND DEEZER PLAYLISTS OF
The 100 All Time Best French Language Songs (Chansons Françaises) Ever
See my list of what I think are the best French language songs ever (with learning the the French Language and Culture in mind) but that are specifically chosen to suite anglophone tastes. I have linked all the songs to YouTube videos, most with lyrics on them or underneath. Slowly doing write-ups for each.
And you can listen to them all on the above page if you sign-up to Spotify
THE WHY AND HOW:
Using
Les Chansons Francaises
(French language songs)
to Learn French.
Read my article explaining why and how... oh... I've just said that. I may go off on a folly with this article but what I say within (when I eventually get to the point) could change your current methods of learning French for the better.
Also: detailed look at Irony vs atlantic drift.
ONE-STOP LINKS AND REVIEWS FOR
The Best French Music Only Radio Stations
Want to listen to French Radio Stations for French Language Songs but finding every two out of three songs are in English (and 3rd rate ones at that). Well, you've found the one link to rule them all, the one link to find them, the one link to link them all, and in cyberspace bind them.
Now that's what I call kick-ass poetry!
(Suck on that one keats)
HOW TO WATCH
Live 'Free to View' French TV Channels Online from Abroad
In the 21st Century, language, culture and television are very closely associated. If you can't be there then the next best thing is to see and hear what those that are are watching. Your ability to understand oral French will undergo a paradigm shift within just a few hundred hours of french tv watching. Yes, I know that sounds like Chinese water torture but there are a few gems to look out for so..
let me be your guide young padawan.
MY SPOTIFY AND DEEZER PLAYLISTS OF
Modern Era French Music Artists And Songs
Did you find my playlist of the top 100 French Language Songs of all time too old fashioned, too meloncholic? Here's the remedy. This is my personal playlist of modern french language music and it goes from mainstream pop to left-field hipster. It's like what French music radio stations would be like if you took out all the 80's anglophone music and then gave it taste.
French music can be... good?
ALL - BY - MY - SEEELLLF... DON'T WANNA BE...
Hints & Tips for Learning French as a
Self Study Topic
Going it alone can be a daunting challenge so why not take a little advice from those that have already crossed that bridge. Stand on the shoulders of vertically challenged people, that's what I say
(No dwarfs were harmed during the writing of this article)
CONJUGATE THIS FOTHER MUCKER
Rundown of the French Verb Tenses and Moods
I noticed that there was very little on the web giving a brief yet comprehensive rundown of these French verb tense-moods as I like to call them. Even less showing the use of them with examples.
Shall we consider this lacune filled now?
THE SLIPPERY FISH OF CONJUGATION RIVER
The French Imperfect Tense (l'imparfait)
There is one barrier left between you and near comprehension of French texts: L'Imparfait. ...and so welcome to my rule of thumb rule on how to translate this tense when you come across it in your readings.
Examples given will help you understand... hopefully.