French- Tenses

Structure of passé composé

Subject + auxiliary verb (avoir/être) + past participle

Example: J'ai mangé. → I ate / I have eaten.

Être is used with verbs of motion and reflexive verbs:

Example: Je suis allé(e). → I went.

When to use l’imparfait

• Used to describe past habits, ongoing actions, or background descriptions.

• Form: Stem (nous form of present tense without -ons) + endings: ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient
  Example: Je jouais au cricket. → I was playing cricket. / I used to play cricket.

Structure of futur proche

Subject + aller (in present tense) + infinitive

• Example: Je vais étudier. → I am going to study.

When to use futur simple

• Used to express actions that will happen in the future.

• Form: Infinitive + endings: ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont
  (For -RE verbs, drop the "e" before adding endings.)
  Example: Je mangerai. → I will eat.

Structure of conditionnel présent

Infinitive form + endings of imparfait: ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient

• Used to express politeness, wishes, or hypothetical situations.
  Example: Je voudrais un café. → I would like a coffee.

Structure of conditionnel passé

Subject + auxiliary verb (avoir/être in conditional) + past participle

• Used to express regrets or things that could have happened.
  Example: J'aurais mangé. → I would have eaten.

Structure of plus-que-parfait

Subject + auxiliary verb (avoir/être in imparfait) + past participle

• Describes an action completed before another past action.
  Example: J'avais fini mes devoirs avant qu'il arrive.
  → I had finished my homework before he arrived.

How to form the imperative

• Used for giving commands, advice, or requests.

• Only in tu, nous, and vous forms (no subject pronoun).
  Example: Mange ! (Eat!) / Parlons ! (Let’s speak!)

Structure of passé récent

Subject + venir (in present) + de + infinitive

• Used to describe actions that just happened.
  Example: Je viens de finir mes devoirs.
  → I just finished my homework.

When to use the subjunctive

• Used for doubt, emotion, will, or necessity.

• Form: Ils/elles stem in present + endings: e, es, e, ions, iez, ent
  Example: Il faut que tu parles. → It is necessary that you speak.

Structure of futur antérieur

Subject + auxiliary verb (avoir/être in futur simple) + past participle

• Used to describe an action that will have been completed before another future action.
  Example:

  • Quand tu arriveras, j’aurai fini mon travail.
    → When you arrive, I will have finished my work.