Tense Flashcards

1
Q

I can’t speak to him because I’m in the bath

A

Je ne peux pas lui parler parce que je suis dans mon bain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

He’s phoning to ask for your help

A

II vous téléphone pour demander votre aide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Water turns to steam when it boils

A

L’eau se transforme en vapeur quand elle bout

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The earth goes round the sun

A

La terre tourne autour du soleil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

I take a bath every morning at eight o’clock

A

Je prends un bain tous les matins à huit heures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

He comes to see me every week to check that everything’s OK

A

II vient me voir toutes les semaines pour s’assurer que tout va bien

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

I’ll come tomorrow for sure

A

Je viens demain, c’est sûr

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Tomorrow he will be leaving for Paris

A

Demain, il part pour Paris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

I walk my dog in the Champs Elysées every morning

A

Je promène mon chien tous les matins aux Champs Elysées

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are you doing?

A

Qu’est-ce que vous faites?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

I have often thought of leaving

A

J’envisage souvent de parti

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

I have brought you some strawberries

A

Je vous apporte des fraises

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Pierre was reading

A

Pierre lisait

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

It was late

A

Il était tard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The town was sleeping

A

La ville dormait

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

It was late. M. Dupont pulled up in front of a café

A

Il était tard. M. Dupont arrêta sa voiture devant un café

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The thieves were making a great deal of noise. The policemen slipped into the room without being noticed

A

Les voleurs faisaient beaucoup de bruit. Les gendarmes se glissèrent dans la pièce sans se faire remarquer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

I was dozing quietly when someone rang the door bell

A

Je somnolais tranquillement quand quelqu’un a sonné à la porte

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

M. Dupont always used to stop at the café when he had the time

A

M. Dupont s’arrêtait toujours au café quand il avait le temps

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

On Sundays, I would go to a restaurant in Paris

A

Le dimanche, j’allais manger dans un restaurant à Paris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

If you gave me some money, I would go to a restaurant in Paris on Sunday

A

Si tu me donnais de l’argent, j’irais manger dans un restaurant à Paris dimanche

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

I ran to the car. I waited a moment, then I put it into reverse. I drove, repeating to myself. ‘Be careful’

A

Je courais jusqu’à la voiture. J’attendais un instant, puis je faisais marche arrière. Je roulais en me répétant: « Fais attention »

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

endings for -er verbs past historic

A

take nous form, omit -ons je: -ai tu -as il/elle - a nous - -âmes vous - âtes ils/elles - -èrent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

endings for -ir/-re verbs past historic

A

take past participle, omit final vowel je: -is tu -is il/elle - it nous - –îmes vous - îtes ils/elles - -irent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

endings for -oir verbs past historic

A

take the past participle and omit the final vowel je: -us tu -us il/elle - ut nous - -ûmes vous - -ûtes ils/elles - -urent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

past historic of avoir

A

J’eus Tu eus Il eut Nous eûmes Vous eûtes Ils eurent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

past historic of être

A

Je fus Tu fus Il fut Nous fûmes Vous fûtes Ils furent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

parler past historic

A

Je parlai Tu parlas Il parla Nous parlâmes Vous parlâtes Ils parlèrent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

finir PH

A

Je finis Tu finis Il finit Nous finîmes Vous finîtes Ils finirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

dormir PH

A

Je dormis Tu dormis Il dormit Nous dormîmes Vous dormîtes Ils dormirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

vendre PH

A

Je vendis Tu vendis Il vendit Nous vendîmes Vous vendîtes Ils vendirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

to receive PH

A

Je reçus Tu reçus Il reçut Nous reçûmes Vous reçûtes Ils reçure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

to increase PH

A

accroître Passé simple j’accrus tu accrus il/elle accrut nous accrûmes vous accrûtes ils/elles accrurent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

acheter PH

A

Passé simple j’achetai tu achetas il/elle acheta nous achetâmes vous achetâtes ils/elles achetèrent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

to acquire PH

A

acquérir Passé simple j’acquis tu acquis il/elle acquit nous acquîmes vous acquîtes ils/elles acquirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

aller PH

A

j’ allai tu allas il;elle;on alla nous allâmes vous allâtes ils;elles allèrent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

to appear PH

A

j’ apparus tu apparus il;elle;on apparut nous apparûmes vous apparûtes ils;elles apparurent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

appeler PH

A

j’ appelai tu appelas il;elle;on appela nous appelâmes vous appelâtes ils;elles appelèrent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

to sit down PH

A

je m’ assis tu t’ assis il s’; elle s’;on s’ assit nous nous assîmes vous vous assîtes ils s’; elles s’ assirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

to oblige

A

astreindre j’ astreignis tu astreignis il;elle;on astreignit nous astreignîmes vous astreignîtes ils;elles astreignirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

to attain

A

atteindre j’ atteignis tu atteignis il;elle;on atteignit nous atteignîmes vous atteignîtes ils;elles atteignirent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

The Olympic Games took place in Montreal in 1982

A

Les Jeux Olympiques eurent lieu à Montréal en 1982

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Dinosaurs lived in the Jurassic period

A

Les dinosaures vécurent au jurassique

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

The president left at 10 p.m. for New York

A

Le président partit à 22h pour New York

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

We came in from Dijon yesterday

A

Nous sommes arrivés hier de Dijon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

They sold their house and went abroad

A

Ils ont vendu leur maison et ils sont partis à l’étranger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

They bought six croissants for our breakfast

A

Ils ont acheté six croissants pour notre petit déjeuner

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

I met Gabriel in April 1945 when we fled from Berlin, and when I was following, with my mother and other refugees, the columns of soldiers going south.

A

J’ai connu Gabriel en avril 1945, quand nous avons fui Berlin et que je suivais avec ma mère et d’autres réfugiés, les colonnes des soldats qui allaient vers le sud.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

It was in a village very early one morning, near Chemnitz. We had lost my cousin Herta, who was three years older than me, between Torgën and Leipzig because she had found one lorry, and we another.

A

C’était dans un village un matin très tôt, près de Chemnitz. Nous avions déjà perdu ma cousine Herta qui avait trois ans de plus que moi entre Torgën et Leipzig, parce qu’elle avait trouvé un camion et nous un autre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

And it was the same morning that I lost my mother. I believe she changed direction, and that she went towards Kassel, to the West, where she had friends

A

Et c’est ce matin-là que j’ai perdu ma mère. Je crois qu’elle a changé de direction, qu’elle est allée vers Kassel à l’ouest, où elle avait des amis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

She picked up her scattered clothes. She packed them carefully into her black suitcase.

A

Elle ramassa ses vêtements épars. Elle les rangea soigneusement dans sa valise noire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

She didn’t take the deserted road along which they had come.

A

Elle ne prit pas la route déserte par où ils étaient venus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

She climbed the hill again and, on the flat rock where they had sat, she spread the opened-out paper bag which had contained her new flip-flops. She wrote on it

A

Elle gravit à nouveau la colline et, sur la roche plate où ils s’étaient assis elle étala ouvert en deux, le sac en papier qui avait enveloppé ses nu-pieds neufs. Elle écrivit dessus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

When I found him he was sleeping peacefully on the beach

A

Quand je l’ai trouvé, il dormait paisiblement sur la plage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

We were going towards the Arc de Triomphe when the planes flew over us

A

Nous allions vers l’Arc de Triomphe quand les avions sont passés/passèrent audessus de nous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

She was putting the finishing touches to her drawing when someone knocked at the door

A

Elle était en train de mettre la dernière touche à son dessin quand on a frappé/frappa à la porte

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

When he goes to Paris he will buy me books

A

Quand il ira à Paris il m’achètera des livres

58
Q

Will you close the door, please

A

Vous fermerez la porte, s’il vous plaît

59
Q

Will you excuse me

A

Vous m’excuserez

60
Q

He would buy me books in Paris if I gave him the money

A

Il m’achèterait des livres à Paris si je lui donnais l’argent

61
Q

I would love to go with him if I didn’t have to go back to Dijon

A

Je l’accompagnerais volontiers si je ne devais pas retourner à Dijon

62
Q

He said: I will come’

A

II a dit: ‘Je viendrai’

63
Q

He said he would come

A

Il a dit qu’il viendrait

64
Q

1 asked him, ‘Will you be able to come?’

A

Je lui ai demandé: “Est-ce tu pourras venir?’

65
Q

I asked him if he could come

A

Je lui ai demandé s’il pourrait venir

66
Q

According to reliable sources, the Prince of Wales will be joining the rest of the royal family for a skiing holiday next week

A

Selon des sources bien informées, le Prince de Galles rejoindrait le reste de la famille royale aux sports d’hiver la semaine prochaine

67
Q

According to our correspondent in Tel Aviv, a peace agreement will be possible in the coming week

A

D’après notre correspondant à Tel Aviv, un accord de paix serait réalisable dans la semaine à venir

68
Q

I would like to book two seats, please

A

Je voudrais réserver deux places, s’il vous plaît

69
Q

I was wondering if I could ask you for information

A

J’aurais voulu vous demander un renseignement

70
Q

She might have her headache again

A

Elle aurait encore sa migraine

71
Q

She might come, perhaps

A

Peut-être qu’elle viendrait

72
Q

Even if he offered me a million francs I still wouldn’t go!

A

II me proposerait un million de francs que je n’irais pas!

73
Q

when she arrives, I’ll tell her

A

Quand elle viendra (NOT *vient), je le lui dirai

74
Q

Once we’ve been to the hotel I will finally be able to get rid of these suitcases

A

Une fois que nous serons passés à l’hôtel je pourrai enfin me débarrasser de ces valises

75
Q

I have been here for more than a year

A

Je suis ici depuis plus d’un an

76
Q

She has been living in our village since Easter

A

Elle habite notre village depuis Pâques

77
Q

He hasn’t been here for more than a year

A

II n’est pas venu ici depuis plus d’un an

78
Q

He has stopped smoking for more than a year

A

Il a arrêté de fumer depuis plus d’un an

79
Q

He has been smoking for more than a year

A

Il fume depuis plus d’un an

80
Q

I had been there for more than a year

A

J’étais là depuis plus d’un an

81
Q

He had stopped smoking for more than a year when he became ill

A

II avait arrêté de fumer depuis plus d’un an quand il est tombé malade

82
Q

I arrived a year ago

A

Je suis arrivé il y a un an

83
Q

She began living in our village six months ago

A

Elle a commencé à habiter notre village il y a six mois

84
Q

We went there more than ten years ago

A

Nous y sommes allés il y a plus de dix ans

85
Q

Jean-Paul says that he wants to keep quiet about it for three weeks

A

Jean-Paul prétend qu’il veut maintenir son silence pendant trois semaines

86
Q

After that we will spend a fortnight on holiday in Ireland

A

Ensuite nous irons passer des vacances en Irlande pendant quinze jours

87
Q

I stayed there for three weeks last year

A

J’y suis resté pendant trois semaines l’année dernière

88
Q

The police left a marker to show where the accident happened/had happened

A

La police laissa une balise pour indiquer où l’accident était arrivé

89
Q

I didn’t take the very quiet road along which we had come

A

Je n’ai pas pris la route déserte par où nous étions venus

90
Q

I will have finished my work from Monday

A

J’aurai fini mon travail dès lundi

91
Q

I will have finished my work before going on holiday

A

J’aurai fini mon travail avant de partir en vacances

92
Q

She may perhaps have finished her homework before she telephoned you

A

Elle aura fini peut-être ses devoirs avant de vous téléphoner

93
Q

The government would have fallen if there had been elections at that time

A

C’aurait été la chute du gouvernement, s’il y avait eu des élections à ce

94
Q

You would have seen him leave if you had come earlier

A

Tu l’aurais vu partir si tu étais venu plus tôt

95
Q

He said he would have finished his work before going on holiday

A

Il a dit qu’il aurait fini son travail avant de partir en vacances’

96
Q

(It is said that) the President may have already left for Germany

A

Le Président serait déjà parti pour l’Allemagne

97
Q

According to my colleagues, I said that the chairman was going to retire

A

Selon mes collègues, j’aurais dit que le président allait prendre sa retraite

98
Q

We therefore still do not know whether the suspected killer, who has allegedly admitted his crime, was indeed the only one who fired or whether he was helped by several accomplice

A

On ne sait donc toujours pas si l’assassin présumé, qui aurait avoué son crime, était bien le seul tireur ou s’il avait été aidé de plusieurs complices

99
Q

had he told me earlier, I could have done it another way

A

Il me l’aurait dit plus tôt, j’aurais pu m’y prendre autrement

100
Q

If he had told me earlier, I could have done it another way

A

S’il me l’avait dit plus tôt, j’aurais pu m’y prendre autrement

101
Q

If one clause in a sentence is in the present, how does one use the imperfect, perfect, simple past

A

the imperfect if one wishes to stress the duration of the action; the compound past (perfect) if one wishes to link the past action to the present or to leave that possibility open; and in the simple past (past historic) if one wishes to indicate, in written French, that the action is definitely completed.

102
Q

I demand a high-level of performance from my employees now and I will continue to do so in the future

A

J’exige une excellente performance de mes employés aujourd’hui, et je l’exigerai encore demain `

103
Q

It’s raining today and it will rain again tomorrow

A

II pleut aujourd’hui et il va pleuvoir encore demain

104
Q

Not at all! You are simply repeating what I have just told you!

A

Mais non! Tu ne fais que répéter ce que je viens de te dire!

105
Q

We have just presented our ideas to the clients

A

Nous venons de présenter nos idées aux clients

106
Q

We will come back again to the topic we have just been discussing

A

Nous reviendrons sur la question que nous venons d’évoquer

107
Q

She wanted to sell the piece of furniture as soon as she bought it

A

Elle a voulu revendre le meuble dès qu’elle l’avait acheté

108
Q

Dad wants to know at what time she came in last night

A

Papa veut savoir à quelle heure elle est rentrée hier soir

109
Q

Dad wanted to know at what time she came in last night

A

Papa a voulu savoir à quelle heure elle était rentrée hier soir

110
Q

Flowers were left (or people left flowers) on the pavement to show where the accident happened

A

On déposa des fleurs sur le trottoir pour indiquer où l’accident était arrivé

111
Q

When I went into the room I realized that John was there before me

A

Quand je suis entré dans la pièce je me suis rendu compte que Jean était arrivé avant moi

112
Q

They were quiet throughout my speech but they applauded when I had finished

A

Ils ont gardé le silence pendant tout mon discours, mais ils ont applaudi quand j’ai eu fini

113
Q

We would have bought your house if we had heard of it in time

A

Nous aurions acheté votre maison si nous en avions entendu parler à temps

114
Q

You could have bought it if you had wanted to

A

Vous auriez pu l’acheter si vous aviez voulu

115
Q

He simply repeated what I had just told him

A

Il ne faisait que répéter ce que je venais de lui dire

116
Q

We had just finished our presentation when there was a power cut

A

Nous venions de conclure notre présentation quand la panne d’électricité est survenue

117
Q

The matter we had just discussed raised a great deal of controversy

A

La question que nous venions d’évoquer avait soulevé beaucoup de controverse

118
Q

Will she have finished her homework before she leaves tomorrow morning?

A

Est-ce qu’elle aura fini ses devoirs avant de partir demain matin?

119
Q

Will she finish her homework after having her shower tomorrow morning?

A

Est-ce qu’elle finira ses devoirs après avoir pris sa douche demain matin?

120
Q

Once we’ve been to the hotel I will finally be able to get rid of these suitcases

A

Une fois que nous serons passés à l’hôtel je pourrai enfin me débarrasser de ces valises

121
Q

Once he has provided me with a satisfactory explanation, we shall be able to agree on the solution to be chosen

A

Lorsqu’il m’aura fourni des explications valables, nous pourrons nous mettre d’accord sur la solution à adopter

122
Q

When you have finished preparing your questions, you (will) give them to the Chair of the session

A

Quand vous aurez eu fini de préparer vos questions, vous les présenterez au Président de séance

123
Q

The prisoner escaped through the window

A

Le prisonnier s’est évadé par la fenêtre

124
Q

The police thought that the prisoner had escaped through the window

A

La police croyait que le prisonnier s’était évadé par la fenêtre

125
Q

I’m coming tomorrow

A

Je viens demain

126
Q

He said that he was coming the following day

A

Il a dit qu’il venait le lendemain

127
Q

if reported speech is in the present, what is the reported tense

A

imperfect

128
Q

if the reported speech is in the future or compound future, what is the reported tense

A

conditional or compound conditional

129
Q

if the reported speech is in the compound or simple past, what is the reported tense

A

pluperfect

130
Q

she is speaking they thought that she was speaking they had thought that she was speaking

A

elle parle Ils croyaient qu’elle parlait Ils ont cru/crurent qu’elle parlait Ils avaient cru qu’elle parlait

131
Q

she will speak they thought that she would speak

A

Ils croyaient qu’ Ils ont cru/crurent qu’ elle parlerait

132
Q

she will have spoken they thought that she would have spoken

A

Ils avaient cru qu’elle aurait parlé

133
Q

she spoke (compound) they thought that she had spoken

A

Elle a parlé Ils croyaient qu’ Ils ont cru/crurent qu’ elle avait parlé

134
Q

she spoke (simple past) they had thought that she had spoken

A

Elle parla Ils avaient cru qu’ elle avait parlé

135
Q

They had thought that she was speaking

A

Ils avaient cru qu’elle parlait

136
Q

They thought that she would have spoken

A

Ils ont cru qu’elle aurait parlé

137
Q

They thought that she had spoken

A

Ils croyaient qu’elle avait parlé

138
Q

They would think that she is speaking

A

Ils croiraient qu’elle parle

139
Q

They think that she will speak

A

Ils croient qu’elle parlera

140
Q

They would have thought that she spoke

A

Ils auraient cru qu’elle a parlé