Present tense in French
MFL, French grammar. Usually met in years 7 to 11.
Choose the right form of common French verbs in the present tense, for what happens now or usually.
What you practise
- Matching the verb to the person (I, you, we and so on)
- Regular and irregular verbs
- Telling this tense apart from the others
Starts with the most common verbs and adds irregular ones level by level. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.
Sample questions
Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.
Sample question, level 2 of 5
nous … (manger, to eat): which is the present tense?
- manges
- mangeons
- mangez
- mangent
- mange
Show the answer and method
Answer: B, mangeons
The method: With ‘nous’ (we), the present tense of ‘manger’ is ‘mangeons’. Nous mangeons keeps the e so the g sounds soft.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A, manges: ‘manges’ goes with ‘tu’, not ‘nous’.
- C, mangez: ‘mangez’ goes with ‘vous’, not ‘nous’.
- D, mangent: ‘mangent’ goes with ‘ils / elles’, not ‘nous’.
- E, mange: ‘mange’ goes with ‘je (j’)’, not ‘nous’.
Sample question, level 4 of 5
je (j’) … (venir, to come): which is the present tense?
- viendrai
- viennent
- suis venu(e)
- venons
- viens
Show the answer and method
Answer: E, viens
The method: With ‘je (j’)’ (I), the present tense of ‘venir’ is ‘viens’. Venir takes être in the perfect tense.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A, viendrai: ‘viendrai’ is the future tense, not the present tense.
- B, viennent: ‘viennent’ goes with ‘ils / elles’, not ‘je (j’)’.
- C, suis venu(e): ‘suis venu(e)’ is the past tense, not the present tense.
- D, venons: ‘venons’ goes with ‘nous’, not ‘je (j’)’.
See where this fits: every language topic and Key Stage 3.
Related topics: Past tense (perfect), Future tense, Gender and agreement, Negatives and questions.
