Futur simple – Indicatif I will start a new job in September.
Je commencerai un nouveau travail en septembre.
Conditionnel présent – Conditionnel I would travel the world if I won the lottery.
Je voyagerais autour du monde si je gagnais à la loterie.
This tense is used because it describes a hypothetical or unreal situation in the present/future (winning the lottery is imagined, not real, so we use conditionnel for the imagined result).
Présent – Indicatif
She speaks French with her grandmother every Sunday.
Elle parle français avec sa grand-mère tous les dimanches.
This tense is used because it describes a regular, repeated action or habit that happens in the present time (every Sunday = ongoing routine).
Imparfait – Indicatif
When I was young, I played soccer every afternoon after school.
Quand j’étais jeune, j’ai joué au foot tous les après-midi après l’école.
This tense is used because it describes a habitual or repeated action in the past (used to / would do something regularly back then).
Passé composé –
Indicatif We watched a great movie last night.
Nous avons regardé un super film hier soir.
This tense is used because it describes a single, completed action with a specific moment in the past (last night = finished event).
Subjonctif présent – Subjonctif
It’s important that you arrive on time tomorrow.
Il est important que tu arrives à l’heure demain.
This tense is used because the main clause expresses necessity/importance (“il est important que”), which requires the subjunctive to show the action is wished for or required, not certain.
Impératif – Impératif
Turn off your phone during the movie!
Éteins ton téléphone pendant le film !
Plus-que-parfait – Indicatif
She had already finished her homework before dinner.
Elle avait déjà fini ses devoirs avant le dîner.
This tense is used because it describes an action that was completed before another past action (finishing homework happened first, then dinner).
Conditionnel passé – Conditionnel
I would have helped you if I had been at home.
Je t’aurais aidé si j’avais été à la maison.
Subjonctif passé – Subjonctif
It’s a pity that we didn’t buy tickets earlier.
C’est dommage que nous n’ayons pas acheté les billets plus tôt.
This tense is used because the main clause expresses regret/emotion (“c’est dommage que”), and the regretted action is in the past.
We had an accident
Nous avons eu un accident
I could have walked
J’aurais pu marché
I would have walked
J’aurais marché
I should have walked
J’aurais du marché
I could come
Je pourrais venir
I could buy myself some new clothes
Je pourrais m’acheter de nouveaux vêtements
Would you like to come
Tu voudrais venir?
I would like a coffee
Je voudrais un cafe
Je m’en coupe
I’ll take care of it
You should brush your teeth (reflexive)
Tu dois te brosser les dents
They know this restaurant
Ils connaissent ce restaurant
Use connaître for people and places
She is talking to me
Elle me parle
In English, words like ME come after the verb. I’m French they come before the verb
She is talking to us
Elle nous parle
Elle parle
I’ll have to understand
Je devrai de comprendre
