Rules and usage
The present indicative (présent de l'indicatif) is the most frequently used tense in French. It expresses what is happening now, what regularly happens, what is true in general, and sometimes even future events that are certain. Mastering this tense is essential because it is the foundation for understanding other verb forms.
When the Present Indicative is Used
- To describe an action happening right now: Je parle français. (I am speaking French / I speak French.)
- To express habitual or repeated actions: Je vais à l'école tous les jours. (I go to school every day.)
- To state general truths: La terre tourne autour du soleil. (The earth revolves around the sun.)
- To express near future with certainty: Demain, je pars en vacances. (Tomorrow, I am leaving on vacation.)
- In narrative or instructions: Tu ouvres la porte et tu entres dans la pièce. (You open the door and you enter the room.)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Je parle français. | I speak French. |
| Elle mange une pomme. | She eats an apple. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Je ne parle pas anglais. | I don't speak English. |
| Elle ne mange pas de viande. | She doesn't eat meat. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Parles-tu français? | Do you speak French? |
| Mangent-elles une salade? | Do they eat a salad? |