Simple tense – temps simple
Let's Define It!
What's a *simple tense*?
A simple tense (un temps simple in French) is first of all a verb tense.
One key element to remember about a simple tense is that it is formed using only one verb, unlike a compound tense verb made up of two elements: auxiliary + past participle.
There are about 8 French simple tenses:
- le présent de l'indicatif / present indicative
- l'imparfait de l'indicatif / imperfect
- le passé simple de l'indicatif / past historic
- le futur simple de l'indicatif / future simple
- le présent du subjonctif / present subjunctive
- l'imparfait du subjonctif / imperfect subjunctive
- le présent de l'impératif / present imperative
- le présent du conditionnel / present conditional
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Let's Pronounce It!
What does it sound like in French?
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Let's Have an Example or Two!
Can a little reinforcement do the trick?
Here are some sentences with simple tense verbs.
- Je parle français. I speak French [present]
- Nous irons en France l'an prochain. We will go to France next year. [future simple]
- Il prit un peu de vin. He had a little wine. [past historic]
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