Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.
Flora Lewis
If you've decided to learn and study French as a second language, your language learning goal should certainly go beyond greeting phrases like merci and bonjour. Surely, you would hope to engage in lively conversations and express yourselves with native speakers one day.
After learning the basic French phrases, you'll need to master at least the basic French verbs and how to conjugate them for effective communication. In fact, as you're preparing to sit GCSE French, you've likely been practising French for years - and not just simple verb conjugation, either.
In this article, we'll have an overview of the right way to conjugate French verb tenses.
📝 Understanding French Verb Tenses
Regular conversations usually revolve around verb tenses, even in French. In essence, verb tenses offer you two key pieces of information — timeline of the action (when), and the nature of the action (is it repetitive or one-off?)
📌 What Are French Verb Tenses?
When it comes to French verb tenses (Les verbes), they are first identified by their infinitive ending, then by whether they are regular or irregular, and finally by their function in a sentence. 1
–er, –ir, –re (and others like –oir)
Most –er verbs → regular
Some –ir verbs → regular (finir)
Many –re / –oir verbs → irregular
Auxiliary verbs: avoir (to have), être (to be)
Reflexive verbs: se lever (to get up), s’amuser (to have fun)
Modal verbs: pouvoir (can), vouloir (to want), devoir (must)
In essence, the endings help you to identify the verbs. The regularity informs you how to change it (conjugate happens here). The function of the verbs will guide you on how to use them in a sentence.
Regular verb = same stem + different endings
Example: Regular verb (parler)
The stem (parl) stays the same at its core: parle, parles, parlons, parlent
Irregular verb = stem changes/not predictable
For the irregular verb (être), the verb changes completely: suis, es, est
📌 Overview of French Verb Moods
While the French language is known for its lively intonations and melodic expressions, it is also adept at capturing a speaker’s precise intentions when describing a particular verb or action — this is where French verb moods come into play.
Based on the French verb moods, we can guess the speaker's attitudes, whether it's a fact, a doubt, an opinion, a command, or a possibility. 2
There are four main French verb moods:
Personal moods
- Indicative (l’indicatif)
- Subjunctive (le subjonctif)
- Conditional (le conditionnel)
- Imperative (l’impératif)
Impersonal moods
- Infinitive (l’infinitif)
- Participle (le participe)
- Gerund (le gérondif)
Let's review this table to see the sample sentences of how they're used:
| Mood | French Name | Type | Function | English Equivalent Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative | L’indicatif | Personal | States facts, reality, certainty (present, past, future) | "I eat" (Je mange) |
| Subjunctive | Le subjonctif | Personal | Doubt, wish, emotion, necessity (after "que") | "That I eat" (que je mange) |
| Conditional | Le conditionnel | Personal | Hypotheticals, polite requests ("would/could") | "I would eat" (Je mangerais) |
| Imperative | L’impératif | Personal | Commands, instructions (no subject) | "Eat!" (Mange !) |
| Infinitive | L’infinitif | Impersonal | Base form after modals/prepositions | "To eat" (manger) |
| Participle | Le participe | Impersonal | Adjective/adverb; past with auxiliaries | "Eaten/eating" (mangé/mangeant) |
| Gerund | Le gérondif | Impersonal | Ongoing action ("while doing") | "While eating" (en mangeant) |
Learning about French verb moods will help you to prepare better for the GCSE French 150-word component.
📖 Present Tenses in French
After reviewing the French verb moods, let's explore how they are incorporated in different tenses.
📌 Présent de l'Indicatif (Present Indicative)
The present indicative in French is usually used for these three main scenarios:
Current actions
Truths/facts
Habitual actions
When it comes to formation, the French present-tense conjugation depends on the verb group:
-ER verbs: stem + -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
parler → je parle (I speak/ I am speaking)
-IR verbs (type finir): stem + -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
inir → je finis (I finish/I am finishing)
-RE verbs: stem + -s, -s, -, -ons, -ez, -ent
vendre → je vends (I sell/I am selling)
📌 Présent du Subjonctif (Present Subjunctive)
On the other hand, the present subjunctive is used to express subjectivity (literally), uncertainty, or even possibility.
It has a great deal to do with what we feel — our desires and emotions.
Anything that falls under the categories below uses the present subjunctive:
- Preferences
- Advice
- Needs
- Desires
- Orders
- Judgments
- Emotions
- Feelings
- Possibilities
- Opinions
- Doubts
- Assumptions
Here's a step-by-step guideline on how to form it using the example of parler (to speak):
Take ils form (the third-person plural form has a full stem) of the present indicative
The present indicative of ills for parler is parlent
Remove the -ent from parlent and parl becomes the subjunctive stem
Add subjunctive endings: -e to the stem--> parle
Use the subjunctive verb after que (a conjunction which means that)
⏳ Past Tenses in French
Now, let's move on to past tenses.
📌 Passé Composé (Present Perfect)
The passé composé is typically used to describe completed actions in the past or a completed action that poses certain consequences in the present.
Its formation: Present tense of auxiliary (avoir or être) + past participle of main verb
Avoir means to have: j’ai, tu as, il a, nous avons, vous avez, ils ont
Être means to be: je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont
Most verbs use avoir, but anything involving movements and reflexive verbs (actions where the subject does to oneself, French verbs with se) uses être.
Have a better understanding of how it works through the following examples:
| Verb | Auxiliary | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| manger | avoir | mangé | J’ai mangé (I ate) |
| finir | avoir | fini | Nous avons fini (We finished) |
| aller | être | allé | Il est allé (He went) |
| vendre | avoir | vendu | Elle a vendu (She sold) |
📌 Imparfait (Imperfect)
For the imparfait, it is mostly used to describe ongoing or habitual past actions. 3
Its formation: Stem from the first person plural of the present indicative + endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient).
Let's look at some imparfait verbs conjugation examples through the table below:
| Person | -er verbs (nous parlons) | 2nd group -ir verbs (nous finissons) | Other -ir verbs (nous dormons) | -re verbs (nous vendons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular (I) | je parlais (I was speaking) | je finissais (I was finishing) | je dormais (I was sleeping) | je vendais (I was selling) |
| 2nd person singular (you) | tu parlais (you were speaking) | tu finissais (you were finishing) | tu dormais (you were sleeping) | tu vendais (you were selling) |
| 3rd person singular (he/she/it) | il/elle/on parlait (he/she/one was speaking) | il/elle/on finissait (he/she/one was finishing) | il/elle/on dormait (he/she/one was sleeping) | il/elle/on vendait (he/she/one was selling) |
| 1st person plural (we) | nous parlions (we were speaking) | nous finissions (we were finishing) | nous dormions (we were sleeping) | nous vendions (we were selling) |
| 2nd person plural (you) | vous parliez (you were speaking) | vous finissiez (you were finishing) | vous dormiez (you were sleeping) | vous vendiez (you were selling) |
| 3rd person plural (they) | ils/elles parlaient (they were speaking) | ils/elles finissaient (they were finishing) | ils/elles dormaient (they were sleeping) | ils/elles vendaient (they were selling) |
📌 Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect)
As for plus-que-parfait, it is used to describe an action that happened before another past action.
Formation: Imperfect of auxiliary verb + past participle.
It's similar to the English phrase " I had done action X before doing action Y..." Let's explore the following examples:
| Subject | Example with avoir (finir → to finish) | Meaning | Example with être (aller → to go) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | j’avais fini | I had finished | j’étais allé(e) | I had gone |
| tu | tu avais fini | You had finished | tu étais allé(e) | You had gone |
| il/elle | il/elle avait fini | He/She had finished | il/elle était allé(e) | He/She had gone |
| nous | nous avions fini | We had finished | nous étions allé(e)s | We had gone |
| vous | vous aviez fini | You (pl./formal) had finished | vous étiez allé(e)(s) | You had gone |
| ils/elles | ils/elles avaient fini | They had finished | ils/elles étaient allé(e)s | They had gone |
⏱️ Future Tenses in French
Moving on, let's review the future tenses.
📌 Futur Simple (Simple Future)
The futur simple is used to describe actions or plans that will happen in the future, whether it's in terms of intentions, predictions, or something conditional. 4
Formation: Infinitive of verbs + endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont).
It is equivalent to the English usage of "will" and "shall" to describe future events. Let's review the table below:
| Subject | Infinitive Ending | Conjugated Form | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | -ai | je parlerai | I will speak |
| tu | -as | tu parleras | you (singular.) will speak |
| il / elle / on | -a | il parlera | he/she/one will speak |
| nous | -ons | nous parlerons | we will speak |
| vous | -ez | vous parlerez | you (plural.) will speak |
| ils / elles | -ont | ils parleront | they will speak |
📌Futur Antérieur (Future Perfect)
The futur antérieur is mostly used to describe an action that would have been completed before another future action, an action that is completed before a specific time in the future.
Formation: Future simple of auxiliary verb (avoir or être) + past participle.
Here's an overview of how you can do it step by step:
| Step | Element | Explanation | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subject | Who is doing the action | je | I |
| 2 | Auxiliary verb | Use avoir (most verbs) | avoir | to have |
| 3 | Auxiliary in futur simple | Conjugate avoir in the future form for je (I) | aurai | will have |
| 4 | Past participle | Past participle of finir | fini | finished |
| 5 | Final form | Auxiliary + past participle | j’aurai fini | I will have finished |
🔁 Conditional Tenses in French
Now, let's switch gears to conditional tenses.
📌Conditionnel Présent (Present Conditional)
The conditionnel présent is widely used to describe hypothetical situations, to make polite requests, or to express certain desires.
It is similar to how would and could are used in English to express such situations.
Formation: Infinitive + imperfect endings (ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient).
Here's an example: Je parlerais avec toi. (I would speak with you.)
| Step | Element | Explanation | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subject pronoun | Decide who is doing the action | je | I |
| 2 | Infinitive | Take the infinitive of the verb | parler | to speak |
| 3 | Conditional ending | Add the imperfect ending for je | -ais | (used for je) |
| 4 | Verb form | Combine infinitive + ending | parlerais | would speak |
| 5 | Complete sentence | Add the rest of the sentence | Je parlerais avec toi. | I would speak with you. |
📌Conditionnel Passé (Past Conditional)
As for conditionnel passé, it is used to describe hypothetical situations in the past, or to express regret — things that didn't happen.
Formation: Conditional present of auxiliary verb + past participle.
Example: J’aurais parlé (I would have spoken)
| Step | Element | Explanation | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subject pronoun | Decide who is doing the action | je | I |
| 2 | Auxiliary verb | Chooseavoirorêtre(parlerusesavoir) | avoir | to have |
| 3 | Auxiliary in conditional présent | Conjugate auxiliary in conditionnel présent | aurais | would have |
| 4 | Past participle | Use the past participle of the main verb | parlé | spoken |
| 5 | Final sentence | Combine all elements | J’aurais parlé | I would have spoken |
🧩 Subjunctive Tenses in French
Earlier, we briefly mentioned the subjunctive verb mood to express uncertainty about a particular emotion.
📌Subjonctif Présent (Present Subjunctive)
In the context of the present subjunctive, it is also similar.
Formation: Stem from the third person plural of the present indicative + specific endings
Example sentence: Il faut que tu viennes. (You must come.)
| Step | Element | Explanation | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expression | Indicates necessity / triggers subjunctive | Il faut que | It is necessary that / You must |
| 2 | Subject | Who performs the action | tu | you |
| 3 | Verb stem | Third person plural of present indicative, remove -ent | viennent | come |
| 4 | Subjunctive ending | Added to stem for tu | -es → viennes | (you) come |
| 5 | Complete sentence | Combine all elements | Il faut que tu viennes. | You must come. |
📌 Subjonctif Passé (Past Subjunctive)
On the other hand, subjonctif passé is used to describe a feeling about something that has happened in the past.
Formation: Present subjunctive of auxiliary verb + past participle.
Example sentence: Je suis content que tu sois venu. (I'm glad you came.)
| Step | Element | Explanation | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expression / trigger | Shows emotion, desire, doubt, etc. | Je suis content que | I'm glad that |
| 2 | Subject of subjunctive | Who performs the action | tu | you |
| 3 | Auxiliary verb (subjunctive) | Present subjunctive ofêtre(movement verb) | sois | are / be |
| 4 | Past participle | Past participle of the main verb | venu | come |
| 5 | Complete verb form | Auxiliary + past participle | sois venu | have come |
| 6 | Complete sentence | Combine all elements | Je suis content que tu sois venu. | I'm glad you came. |
🗣️ Imperative Mood in French
Imperative mood, as the name implies, is used to give commands or a specific instruction. It is usually concise and direct.
📌 Présent de l'Impératif (Present Imperative)
For the present imperative, the same usage is applied to order someone or request something at the moment. It is formed when you use the present indicative of a verb and remove the subject.
| Person | Present Indicative | Imperative Form | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | tu parles | Parle ! | Speak! |
| nous | nous parlons | Parlons ! | Let's speak! |
| vous | vous parlez | Parlez ! | Speak! (formal/plural) |
⚠️ Common Mistakes and Tips
Now, let's talk about some common mistakes that students make while revising French verb tenses and some tips to overcome them.
✅ Confusing Passé Composé and Imparfait
For most of us who are learning French as a second language, the concept of passé composé and imparfait could be confusing in the beginning because of the state of action that is happening in the past.
Passé Composé
- Describe a completed action
- Refers to a specific moment
- Example: : Il est arrivé. (He arrived.)
Imparfait
- Describe an ongoing, repeated action
- Refers to something happening in the background
- Example: Il pleuvait. (It was raining.)
Explore more about the GCSE French speaking test.
✅ Incorrect Auxiliary Choice
Another common mistake is using the auxiliary verb (avoir vs être).
The general rule is that most French verbs use avoir, usually associated with actions and activities. On the other hand, être leans towards movements (arriving/leaving) as well as reflexive (the subject does the action to itself).
✅ Missing the Subjunctive
Finally, language learners often miss out on speaking or writing the subjunctive in French. One way to trigger the usage of the subjunctive in a sentence is to use it after "que."
Que plays an important role here. It acts as a bridge that connects the elements of subjectivity (desires, emotions, doubt, necessity), and the subject (je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, elles). 5
| Trigger / Use | French Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Necessity | Il faut que tu viennes. | You must come. |
| Desire / Wish | Je veux que tu parles. | I want you to speak. |
| Emotion | Je suis content que tu sois ici. | I'm glad you are here. |
| Doubt / Uncertainty | Je doute qu'il comprenne. | I doubt he understands. |
| Past Action | Je suis content que tu sois venu. | I'm glad you came. |
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References
- French Verb Tenses: The Complete Guide. (n.d.). Busuu. https://www.busuu.com/en/french/tenses
- lkl. (2020, February 3). French Verb Mood - Lawless French Grammar. Lawless French. https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/verb-mood/
- L’imparfait: The Imperfect Tense in French Grammar. (2026). Lingolia.com. https://francais.lingolia.com/en/grammar/tenses/imparfait#a-when-to-use-the-imperfect-tense
- Le futur simple: the future tense in French. (2025). Lingolia.com. https://francais.lingolia.com/en/grammar/tenses/le-futur-simple#a-when-to-use-the-in-french
- Subjunctive French Verbs: A Practical Guide - Busuu. (2025). Busuu. https://www.busuu.com/en/french/subjunctive
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