Verb conjugations

Question 1

Passé composé

Answer 1

Indicatif

Used for specific actions which were completed in the past.

We conjugate the passé composé using the auxiliary verbs avoir or être followed by the past participle (le participe passé) of the verb.

e.g. j’ai parlé - I spoke

Question 2

Imparfait

Answer 2

Indicatif

Past tense used for ongoing, repetitive or actions without a known start or finish.

We conjugate the imperfect by adding the endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez and -aient to the root of the present tense nous form of the verb.

e.g. je parlais - I was speaking

Question 3

Future simple

Answer 3

Indicatif

Future tense used for predictions, plans and intentions.

We conjugate the future tense by adding the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez and -ont to the infinitive of the verb.

e.g. je parlerais

Question 4

Future anterior

Answer 4

Indicatif

Future tense used to talk about something that will have happened or will have been completed at some point in the future.

To conjugate the futur antérieur we use the futur simple form of avoir or être as an auxiliary, followed by the past participle of the main verb.

e.g. je aurai parle

Question 5

Plus que parfait

Answer 5

Past tense that describes events that happened completely in the past, that come before other events in the past.

e.g. j’avais parle - I had talked (… before …)

Question 6

Future proche

Answer 6

A future tense used to express something that will be happening in the very near future, and is formed by conjugating the verb aller (to go) into the present tense and pairing it with the infinitive verb.

Formation of Near Future Tense: present tense of aller + infinitive (main verb)

e.g. Je vais parler - I am going to speak