The present indicative Flashcards
The present indicative
What are the three groups of regular verbs in French?
- verbs ending in ‘‘-er’’
- verbs ending in ‘‘-ir’’
- verbs ending in ‘‘-re’’
The present indicative
Which are the personal endings that are added to the stem of a regular er verbs in the present tense?
- e
- es
- e
- ons
- ez
- ent
The present indicative
When the final ‘’s’’ in ‘‘ils’’ and ‘‘elles’’ is audible? (present tense)
When the verb begins with a vowel or a mute h.
The present indicative
What is the rule of pronouncing the verbs which stem end in a vowel in the present tense?
This vowel should be pronouced, except in the verbs ending ‘‘-guer’’.
f.e.: j’étudie, tu oublies, il remercie
The present indicative
When the ‘‘e’’ of ‘‘je’’ is dropped in the present tense?
If the verb begins wit a vowel or mute ‘‘h’’
f.e.: j’adore, j’hesite
The present indicative
Everybody is working.
Tout le monde travaille.
The expression ‘‘tout le monde’’ always takes the third person singular verb form.
The present indicative
How many present tense forms does French have?
Only one-the simple present.
Elle chante=she sings, she is singing, she does sing.
The present indicative
The conjugation of regular ‘‘-er’’ verbs with spelling changes in the present tense.
Give the three rules of spelling changes in the verbs which have ‘‘e’’ in the next to last syllable of the infinitive.
- Some of these verbs double the last consonant of the stem in all persons except ‘‘nous’’ and ‘‘vous’’
jeter: je jette, tu jettes, il jette, nous jetons, vous jetez, ils jettent.
Other verbs of this type are: appeler, épeler, projeter, rappeler. - Some change the ‘‘e’’ into ‘‘è’’ in all persons except ‘‘nous’’ and ‘‘vous’’.
acheter: j’achète, tu achètes, il achète, nous achetons, vous achetez, ils achètent.
Other verbs of this type are: achever, amener, élever, emmener, enlever, geler, lever, mener, peser, promener.
The present indicative
The conjugation of regular ‘‘-er’’ verbs with spelling changes in the present tense.
Give the rule of spelling changes in the verbs that have an ‘‘é’’ in the next to last syllable of the infinitive.
They change ‘‘é’’ to ‘‘è’’ in all persons except ‘‘nous’’ and ‘‘vous’’.
espérer: j’espère, tu espères, il espère, nous espérons, vous espérez, ils espèrent
Other verbs of this type: céder, célébrer, considérer, exagérer, gérer, posséder. préférer, protéger, répéter, succéder.
The present indicative
The conjugation of regular ‘‘-er’’ verbs with spelling changes in the present tense.
Give the two rules of spelling changes in the verbs that end in ‘‘-yer’’
- Verbs ending in ‘‘-ayer’’ can change the ‘‘y’’ into an ‘‘i’’ in all persons except ‘‘nous’’ and ‘‘vous’’. They can also keep the ‘‘y’’ throughout the conjugation.
payer: je paie (paye), tu paies (payes), il paie (paye), nous payons, vous payez, ils paient (payent)
Other verbs of this type are: balayer, essayer - Verbs ending in ‘‘-oyer’’ or in ‘‘-uyer’’ always substitute an ‘‘i’’ for the ‘‘y’’ in all persons except ‘‘nous’’ and ‘‘vous’’.
nettoyer: je nettoie, tu nettoies, il nettoie, nous nettoyons, vous nettoyez, ils nettoient
ennuyer: j’ennuie, tu ennuies, il ennuie, nous ennuyons, vous ennuyez, ils ennuient.
Other verbs: appuyer, employer, envoyer, essuyer.
The present indicative
The conjugation of regular ‘‘-er’’ verbs with spelling changes.
Give the two rules of spelling changes in the verbs ending in ‘‘-ger’’ and ‘‘-cer’’
These verbs change their spelling only in the ‘‘nous’’ form for phonetic reasons.
- Verbs ending in ‘‘-ger’’ add ‘‘e’’ after the ‘‘g’’ in the ‘‘nous form of the present tense.
manger: nous mangeons - Verbs ending in ‘‘cer’’ add a cédille to the ‘‘c’’ in the ‘‘nous’’ form of the present tense.
commencer: nous commençons
The present indicative
Which are the personal endings that are added to the stem of a regular ir verbs in the present tense?
- is
- is
- it
- issons
- issez
- issent
The present indicative
Which are the personal endings that are added to the stem of a regular re verbs in the present tense?
-s
-s
-(no ending)
-ons
-ez
-ent
Note: the verbs ‘‘rompre’’ and ‘’ interrompre’’ add ‘‘t’’ in the third person singular: il rompt, il interromt
The present indicative
How to make a statement negative?
Place ‘‘ne’’ (‘‘n’ ‘’ before a vowel or mute ‘‘h’’) before the verb and ‘‘pas’’ after it.
The present indicative
I don’t think so
Je ne pense pas
The present indicative
He doesna’t like animals.
Il n’aime pas les animaux.
The present indicative
Which re the four ways to form a question in french?
- By placing ‘‘est-ce que’’ (‘‘est-ce qu’ ‘’ before a vowel) at the beginning of the declarative sentence without changing the word order.
Est-ce que je parle trop vite?
Est-ce qu’elle fume? - By using inversion. When the subject of the sentence is a personal pronoun, the pronoun (except ‘‘je’’) is placed after the verb and linked to it by hyphen.
Travailles-tu?
Réponent-ils?
N’écrit-il?
When the third person singular (il, elle, on) verb form ends in a vowel, the letter ‘‘t’’ must be inserted with two hyphens between the verb and the pronoun. This is the case of all regular ‘‘-er’’ ending verbs.
Ressemble-t-il à sa mère? - By intonation
Tu trouves? (Do you think so?) - By placing ‘‘n’est-ce pas’’ (which is invariable) at the end end of the declarative statement without changing its word order.
Les enfants aiment les friandises, n’est-ce pas? (Children like sweets, don’t they)
The present indicative
Can I / may I help you?
Puis-je vous aider?
The verb ‘‘pouvoir’’ has two forms in the first person singular. The form ‘‘puis’’ is used in the inverted question form.
The present indicative
How the first person plural of irregular verbs ends?
in ‘‘-ons’’ except nous sommes
The present indicative
How the second person plural of verbs ends?
in ‘‘-ez’’ except: vous dites, vous, êtes, vous faites
The present indicative
How the third person plural ends?
in ‘‘-ent’’ except: ils font, ils ont, ils sont, ils vont
When is the present tense of the indicative mode used?(five cases)
- To express actions, states or situations occuring at the time of speaking.
Je rearde la télévision.
To emphasize that an action is in progress, French uses expression ‘‘être en train de’’(+ infinitive) - To express a general truth.
L’eau gèle à 0 degrès C. - To express repetitions or habitual actions.
Il dit toujours la vérité - To express actions in the future which will soon or surely take place.
Je te téléphone ce soir. (I’ll call you tonight) - To relate past events in literary and historical texts to make the description more vivid.
Jeanne d’Arc n’a que dix-neuf ans quand elle est brûlée vive. - With ‘‘depuis’’ for actions or situations which started in the past, but continue in the present.
Depuis combien de temps étudiez-vous le francais? (‘‘depuis’’ means ‘‘for’’)
Depuis quand travaillez-vous ici? (‘‘depuis’’ means ‘‘since’’)
‘‘ça fait…que’’ , ‘‘il y a…que’’ , ‘‘voilà…que’’ (not used in the question) can replace ‘‘depuis’’ when it means ‘‘for’’.
Ça fait / il y a combien de temps que vous étudiez le francais?
Ça fait / il y a / voilà deux ans que j’étudie le francais.
The present indicative
What is the construction of the close future mode?
aller+infinitive
Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire?
I
The present indicative
I’m going to check my mail.
Je vais consulter mon courriel.
The present indicative
It is going to rain tonight.
Il va pleuvoir ce soir.
The present indicative
What is the construction to express recent past?
venir+de+infinitive
L’avion vient d’atterrir.
The present indicative
We have just arrived.
Nous venons d’arriver.
The present indicative
I just came home.
Je viens de rentrer.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
When is the verb ‘‘savoir’’ used?
- When one knows a fact, such as a name, address, phone number, the time of day, a date or an age, etc.
Je sais son address. - When one knows some thing very well from studying or memorizing it.
Sais-tu ta grammaire?
Elle sait sa leçon. - To express to know how to do sth. ‘‘savoir’’ is used with following infinitive.
Sais-tu conduire? - '’Savoir’’ is used in the main clause (at the beginning of a sentence) when a subordinate clause follows. Subordinate clauses are introduced by words such as quand, où, si, pourquoi, qui, comment, combien, que, quel, quelle, etc.
Je ne sais pas pourquoi il est fâché.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Do you know how she is (doing)?
Sais-tu comment elle va?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
We don’t know where he lives.
Nous ne savons pas où il habite.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Savez-vous quelle heure il est?
Do you know what time it is?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Ils savent combien ça coûte.
They knowhow much that costs.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
He knows that it is true.
Il sait que c’est vrai. (conjunction ‘‘que’’ cannot be omitted.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I know it.
Je le sais.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I don’t know.
Je ne sais pas.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Who knows?
Qui sait?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
One never knows.
On ne sait jamais.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
You know what?
Tu sais quoi?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I don’t know what to do.
Je ne sais pas quoi faire.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I don’t know why.
Je ne sais pas pourquoi.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
When is the verb ‘‘connaître’’ used?
- When one knows a person.
Connais-tu ce monsieur? - When one knows a place ( a country, a city, a street, a restaurant, a building, etc.)
Je connais bien la France. - When one is familiar with something that one read, saw, heard or experienced (a book, a play, a movie, a song, literature, paintings, etc.)
Je connais les tableaux de Monet. - '’Connaître’’ must be have an object (noun or pronoun); it cannot be used alone.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I know the poem by heart.
Je sais le poème par coeur.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I have known Peter for a long time.
Je connais Pierre depuis longtemps.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I don’t know anyone.
Je ne connais personne.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
They know the Duvals.
Ils connaissent les Duval.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Do you know Paris? (Have you been to Paris?)
Connaissez-vous Paris?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
He doesn’t know this restaurant.
Il ne connaît pas ce restaurant.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
She knows this city like the back of my hand.
Elle connaît cette ville comme sa poche.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Do you know this movie?
Connais-tu ce film?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
He doesn’t know this song.
Il ne connît pas cette chanson.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I know the poem.
Je connais le poème.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Which is the difference between ‘‘savoir’’ and ‘‘connître’’ when they are used with language.
'’Savoir’’ is generally used when a very thorough knowledge is implied.
Il sait l’italien; c’est sa langue maternelle.
Je sais l’allemand. Je le parle couramment.
‘‘Connaître’’ is used when the knowledge is considered incomplete.
Nous connaissons un peu de russe.
Elle connaît plusieurs langues étragères.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
When is the verb ‘‘quitter’’ used?
One uses ‘‘quitter’’ wit a direct object (which can be a person or a place). The direct object is either a noun or a pronoun. ‘‘Quitter’’ cannot stand alone.
Elle quitte la maison à huit heures.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
Don`t leave me!
Ne me quitte pas!
The present indicative (problem verbs)
He wants to leave his parents.
Il veut quitter ses parents.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
The train is leaving the station.
Le train quitte la gare.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
When is the verb ‘‘partir’’ used?
'’Partir’’ can stand alone. It does not need an object.
Tu pars déjà?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
The plane leaves at 9 o’clock.
L’avion part à neuf heures.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
He is leaving (from) Paris.
Il part de Paris.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
She is leaving for Europe.
Elle part pour l’Europe (en Europe)
The present indicative (problem verbs)
I am leaving for London.
Je pars pour Londres.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
they are leaving for Perou.
Ils partent pour le Pérou (au Pérou).
The present indicative (problem verbs)
When is the verb ‘‘quitter’’ used?
One uses ‘‘laisser’’ with a direct object (person or thing) to express to leave someone or something behind somewhere, or to not take someone or something along.
Faut-il laisser un pourboire?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
She is going to leave her children at home.
Elle va laisser ses enfants à la maison.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to bring in french?
- apporter - to bring something
Veux-tu que j’apporte une bouteille de vin? - amener - to bring someone
Est-ce que tu amènes ton petit ami?
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to take in French?
1. prendre - to take something Nous allons prendre l'avion. Je prends de vitamines. Il a hâte de prendre des vacances. (He is looking forward to taking a vacation.) 2. emporter - to take something along Quand je voyage, j'emporte toujours beaucoup de vêtements. 3. emmener - to take someone along Ce soir, j'emmène les enfants au cinéma.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to spend in French?
- passer - to spend time
Tous les ans, je passe une semaine à Paris. - dépanser - to spend money
Il dépanse plus qu’il ne gagne.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to visit in French?
- visiter - to visit a place
Ils visitent le musée. - rendre a visite à - to visit a person
Je rends souvent visite à mes parents.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to make in French?
- faire - to make in general sense
Elle fait beaucoup de bruit. - rendre - to make someone or something + adjective
Il rend sa femme heureuse.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to look in French?
1. regarder - to look at, to watch Je regarde les photos. 2. avoir l'air - to look + adjective Tu as l'air fatigué. 3. ressembler à - to look like, to resemble Elle resemble à sa mère.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to walk in French?
- marcher - to walk followed by an adverb, to walk within a place, to walk without any destination mentioned.
Je marche vite.
Nous marchons dans la fôret. - aller à pied - to walk to a destination, to walk as opposed to driving
Je vais à l’école à pied.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to travel in French?
- voyager - to travel within a place, to travel without a destination en mentioned
Ils voyagent en Espagne. - aller - to travel to a destination
Ils vont au Brésil cet été.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to drive in French?
- conduire - to drive followed by an adverb, a direct object, or the place where the driving takes place
Je conduis (roule) vite.
Conduire cannot be used when a destination is mentioned, except when a direct object precedes the destination f.e. Elle conduit ses enfants à l’école. - aller en voiture - to drive to a destination
Nous allons à New York en voiture.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to fly in French?
- voler - to fly (planes,birds, pilots, etc.)
L’avion vole très bas. - aller en avion - to flyby passengers, to fly to a destination
Je vais en Italie en avion.
The present indicative (problem verbs)
How do you say to attend in French?
- assister à - to attend a specific event, such as wedding, a concert, a lecture, a funeral, etc.
Vas-tu assister au match de foot? - aller à - to attend something regularly, such as a school or a university
Ma fille va à l’univeristé de Strasbourg.
The present indicative
to be thirsty
avoir soif
The present indicative
to be hungry
avoir faim
The present indicative
to be hot
avoir chaud
The present indicative
to be cold
avoir froid
The present indicative
to be right
avoir raison
The present indicative
to be wrong
avoir tort
The present indicative
to be sleepy
avoir sommeil
The present indicative
to be afraid of
avoir peur
The present indicative to look (+adjective)
avoir l’air (+adjective)
The present indicative
She looks tired.
Elle a l’air fatiguée.
The present indicative
To look like
avoir l’air de
The present indicative
He looks like a film star.
Il a l’air d’une vedette.
The present indicative to need (to do)
avoir besoin de qqn/qqch (+infinitive)
The present indicative
What do you need? - I need money
De quoi as tu besoin? - J’ai besoin d’argent.
The present indicative
He needs a car.
Il a besoin d’une voiture.
The present indicative to nedd (to do)
avoir besoin de (+infinitive)
The present indicative
You don’t need to come.
Tu n’as pas besoin de venir.
The present indicative
to feel like (having) sth, to want sth
avoir envie de qqch
The present indicative
I want a glass of wine.
J’ai envie d’un verre de vin.
The present indicative
to feel like (doing)
avoir envie de (+infinitive)
The present indicative
I don’t feel like going out.
Je n’ai pas envie de sortir.
The present indicative
to be lucky
avoir de la chance
The present indicative
to take place
avoir lieu
The present indicative
The concert takes place tonight.
Le concert a lieu ce soir.
The present indicative
to have a(n) …ache
avoir mal à (+ part of body)
The present indicative
to have a sore throat
avoir mal à la gorge
The present indicative
to have a headache
avoir mal à la tête
The present indicative
to have a stomachache
avoir mal à l’estomac
The present indicative
to have a backache
avoir mal au dos
The present indicative
to have a toothache
avoir mal aux dents
The present indicative
to have a hangover
avoir mal aux cheveux
The present indicative
to feel sick in one’s stomach
avoir mal au coeur
The present indicative
to be anxious to, look forward to
avoir hâte de + infinitive
The present indicative
I can’t wait to see you again.
J’ai hâte de te revoir.
The present indicative
to detest, to hate, loathe sth
avoir horreur de qqch
The present indicative
I detest modern music.
J’ai horreur de la musique moderne.
The present indicative
to be ashamed
avoir honte
The present indicative
to be used to, be accustomed to
avoir l’habitude de + infinitive
The present indicative
to intend to
avoir l’intention de + infinitive
The present indicative
to look good / bad (referring to health)
avoir bonne / mauvaise de mine
The present indicative
to be homesick
avoir le mal du pays
The present indicative
to have difficulty / trouble (doing sth)
avoir du mal à + infinitive
The present indicative
to have the blues, to be depressed
avoir le cafard
