Present Tense

The French present tense, called le présent or le présent de l’indicatif, is quite similar in usage to the English present tense. In French, the present tense is used to express all of the following:

I. Current actions and situations

Je suis fatigué.
I am tired.

Nous allons au marché.
We are going to the market.

II. Habitual actions

Il va à l’école tous les jours.
He goes to school every day.

Je visite des musées le samedi.
I visit museums on Saturdays.

III. Absolute and general truths

La terre est ronde.
The earth is round.

L’éducation est importante.
Education is important.

IV. Actions which will occur immediately

J’arrive !
I’ll be right there!

Il part tout de suite.
He is leaving right away.

V. Conditions, such as in si clauses

Si je peux, j’irai avec toi.
If I can, I will go with you.

Si vous voulez.
If you like.

Plenty more to come so stay tuned!