文/羊生生
sample English verb conjugation
infinitive to ---- aller
present participle: going
past participle: gone
The seven simple senses
1 present indicative: I go , you go he/she/it goes; we go, you go, they go
or: I do go, you do go, she/he/it does go, we do go, you do go, they do go
or: I am going, you are going, he/she/it is going, we are going, you are going, they are going
2 imperfect indicative
I was going, you were going, he/she/it was going; we were going, you were going, they were going
or: I went, you went, she/he/it went, we went. you went, they went
or: I used to go, you used to go, she/he/it used to go; we used to go, you used to go, they used to go
3 passé simple (simple past)
I went, you went, she/he/it went, we went, you went, they went
or I did go, you did go, he/she/it did go; we did go, you did go, they did go
4 future:
I shall/will go, you will go, she/he/it will go, we shall (will) go, you will go, they will go
5 conditional
I would go, you would go, she/he/it would go, we would go, you would go, they would go
6 present subjunctive
that I may go, that you may go, that she/he/it may go; that we may go, that you may go, that they may go
7 imperfect subjunctive
that I might go, that you might go, that he/she/it might go; that we might go, that you might go, that they might go
The seven compound tenses
8 passé composé (compound past)
I have gone, you have gone, he/she/it has gone; we have gone, you have gone they have gone
or: I went, you went, he/she it went, we went, you went, they went
or: I did go, you did go , she/he/it did go, we did go, you did go, they did go
9 pluperfect or past perfect indicative:
I had gone, you had gone, he/she/it had gone; we had gone, you had gone, they had gone
10 past anterior
I had gone, you had gone, she/he/it had gone, we had gone, you had gone, they had gone
11 future perfect or future anterior
I shall/will have gone, you will have gone, he/she/it will have gone; we shall/will have gone, you will have gone, they will have gone
12 conditional perfect
I would have gone, you would have gone, she/he/it would have gone; we would have gone, you would have gone, they would have gone
13 past subjunctive
that I may have gone, that you may have gone, that he/she/it may have gone; that we may have gone, that you may have gone, that they may have gone
14 pluperfect or past perfect subjunctive
that I might have gone, that you might have gone, that he/she/it might have gone, that we might have gone, that you might have gone, that they might have gone
imperative (command) go! (sing.) Let's go! Go! (pl.)
a summary of French verb tenses and moods
A verb is where the action is! A verb is a word that expresses an action ( like go, eat, write) or a state of being ( like think, believe, be). Tense means time. French and English verb tenses are divided into three main groups of time: past, present and future. A verb tense shows if an action or state of being took place, is taking place, or will take place.
French and English verbs are also used in three moods (or modes) . Mood has to do with the way a person regards an action or a state. For example, a person may merely make a statement or ask a question---- this is the Indicative Mood, which we use most of the time in French and English. A person may say that he would do something if something else were possible or that he would have done something if something else had been possible---- this is the Conditional Tense. A person may use a verb in such a way to indicate a wish, a fear, a regret, a supposition, or something of this sort---- this is the Subjunctive Mood. The Subjunctive Mood is used in French much more than in English. A person may command that something to be done---- this is the Imperative Mood. ( There is also the Infinitive Mood, but we are not concerned with that here).
There are six tenses in English: Present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect. The first three are simple tenses. The other three are compound tenses and are based on the simple tenses. In French, however, there are fourteen tenses, seven of which are simple and seven of which are compound.
In the pages that follow, the tenses and moods are given in French and the equivalent name or names in English are given in parentheses. Each tense name has been numbered for easy reference and recognition. Although some of the names given in English are not considered to be tenses ( there are only six), they are given for the purpose of identification as they are related to the French names. The comparison includes only the essential points you need to know about the meanings and the uses of French verb tenses and moods as related to English usage.
The seven simple tenses
Tense No.1 Le Présent de l'indicatif ( present indicative)
This tense is used most of the time in French and English . It indicates:
a An action or a state of being at the present time.
examples:
1 Je vais à l'école maintenant. I am going to school now.
2 Je pense; donc, je suis. I think, therefore, I am.
b Habitual action
example:
1 Je vais à la bibliothéque tous les jours. I go to the library every day, or I do go to the library everyday.
c A general truth, something which is permanently true.
1 Deux et deux font quatre. Two and two are four
2 Voir c'est croire. Seeing is believing.
d Vividness when talking or writing about past events. This is called the historical present
Marie-Antoinette est condamnée à mort. Elle monte dans la charrette et est en route pour la guillotine. Marie-Antoinette is condemned to death. She gets into the cart and is on her way to the guilotine.
e A near future
Mon frère arrive demain. My brother arrives tomorrow.
f An action or state of being that occurred in the past and continues up to the present. In English, this tense is the Present Perfect, which is formed with the present tense of to have ( have or has) plus the past participle of the verb you are using.
1 Je suis ici depuis dix minutes. I have been here for ten minutes. I am still here at present
2 Elle est malade depuis trois jours. She has been sick for three days. She is still sick at present.
3 J'attends l'autobus depuis dix minutes. I have been waiting for the bus for ten minutes.
Note: In this last example the formation of the English verb tense is slightly different from the other two examples in English. The present participle (waiting) is used instead of the past participle (waited).
Note also: For the formation of this tense for regular verbs.
Tense No. 2 L'Imparfait de l'indicatif ( Imperfect indicative)
This is a past tense. It is used to indicate:
a An action that was going on in the past at the same time as another action
Il lisait pendant que j'écrivais. He was reading while I was writing.
b An action that was going on in the past when another action occurred.
Il lisait quand je suis entré. He was reading while I came in.
c An action that a person did habitually in the past
Nous allions à la palge tous les jours. We used to go to the beach every day. or We would go to the beach every day.
d A description of a mental or physical condition in the past.
(mental condition) Il était triste quand je l'ai vu.
He was sad when I saw him.
(physical condition) Quand ma mère était jeune, elle était belle.
When my mother was young, she was beautiful.
e An action or state of being that occurred in the past and lasted for a certain length of time prior to another past action. In English, it is usually translated as a pluperfect tense and is formed with had been plus the present participle of the verb you are using. It is like the special use of the Présent de l'indicatif described in the above section (Tense No.1) in paragraph f, except that the action or state of being no longer exists at present.
J'attendais l'autobus depuis dix minutes quand li est arrivé.
I had been waiting for the bus for ten minutes when it arrived.
Tense No. 3 Le passé simple (past definite or simple past)
This past tense is not ordinarily used in conversational French or in informal writing. It is a literary tense. It is used in formal writing, such as history and literature. You should be able merely to recognize this tense when you see it in your French readings. It should be noted that French writers use the Passé simple less and less these days. The passé composé (Tense No. 8) is taking its place in literature, except for avoir and être, which you must know in this tense.
Il alla en Afrique. He went to Africa.
Il voyagea en Amérique. He traveled to America.
Elle fut heureuse. She was happy.
Elle eut un grand bonheur. She had great happiness.
Tense No. 4 Le future ( future)
In French and English this tense is used to express an action or a state of being that will take place at some time in the future.
a J'irai en France l'été prochain. I shall go to France next summer. or I will go to France next summer
b J'y penserai. I shall think about it. or I will think about it.
c Je partirai dès qu'il arrivera. I shall leave as soon as he arrives.
d Je te dirai tout quand tu seras ici.
I shall tell you all when you are here.
If the action of the verb you are using is not past or present and if future time is implied, use the future tense when the clause begins with any of the following conjunctions: aussitôt que ( as soon as), dès que ( as soon as), quand (when), lorsque (when), and tant que (as long as).
Another way to express the future is le Futur proche (the Near Future), As one may guess, the Futur proche is used when talking about something that will take place in the near future. In French, the near future is formed by using aller with the infinitive of the verb that you want to use. In English you use to go with the infinitive of the verb that you want to use.
Demain, je vais acheter un ordinateur. Tomorrow I am going to buy a computer.
Nous allons manger en ville.
We are going to eat downtown.
Tense No. 5 Le conditionel présent (the conditional)
The Conditional is used in French and English to express
a An action that you would do if something else were possible.
Je ferais le travail si j'avais le temps.
I would do the work if I had the time.
b A conditional desire. This is the Conditional of courtesy in French
J'aimerais du thé. I would like some tea.
Je voudrais du thé. i would like some tea.
c An obligation or duty
Je devrais étudier pour l'examen. I should study for the examniation. or I ought to study for the examination.
Note: 1 The French verb devoir plus the infinitive is used to express the idea of should when you mean ought to.
2 When the Conditional of verb pouvoir is used in French, it is translated into English as could or would be able.
Je pourrais venir après le dîner. I could come after dinner.
or I would be able to come after dinner.
Tense No. 6 Le présent du subjonctif ( present subjunctive)
The Subjunctive Mood is used in French much more than in English. It is disappearing in English except for the following major uses:
a The Subjunctive is used in French and English to express a command
Soyez à l'heure! Be on time!
Note: In English, the form in the Subjunctive applies mainly to the verb to be. Also, note that all verbs in French are not in the Subjunctive when expressing a command.
b The Subjunctive is commonly used in English to express a condition that is contrary to fact.
If i were you, I would not do it.
Note: In French, the Subjunctive is not used in this instance. Instead, the imparfait de l'indicatif is used if what precedes is si(if). Same example in French: Si j'étais vous, je ne le ferais pas.
c The Present subjunctive is used in French and English after a verb that expresses some kind of insistence, preference, or suggestion.
1 Je préfère qu'il fasse le travail maintenant. I prefer that he do the work now.
2 J'exige qu'il soit puni. I demand that he be punished.
d The Subjunctive is used in French after a verb that expresses doubt, fear, joy, sorrow, or some other emotion. Notice in the following examples that the Subjunctive is not used in English but it is in French.
1 Je doute qu'il vienne.
I doubt that he is coming. or I doubt that he will come
2 Je suis heureux qu'il vienne.
I am happy that he is coming.
3 Je regrette qu'il soit malade. I am sorry that he is sick.
4 J'ai peur qu'il ne soit malade. I'm afraid that he is sick.
Note: After a verb that expresses fear ( used in the affirmative), you should add ne before the verb that is in the subjunctive. If the statement is negative, do not add ne.
3 The Present subjunctive is used in French after certain conjunctions. Notice, however, that the Subjunctive is not always used in English.
1 Je resterai jusqu'à ce qu'il vienne.
I shall stay until he comes.
2 Quoiqu'elle soit belle, il ne l'aime pas.
Although she is beautiful, he does not love her.
3 Je l'explique pour qu'elle comprenne.
I'm explaning it so that she may understand.
4 Je partirai à moins qu'il ne vienne.
I shall leave unless he comes.
Note: After a verb that expresses the possibility of an obstacle ( or of a precaution), you may add ne before the verb that is in the subjunctive.
f The Present subjunctive is used in French after certain impersonal expressions that show a need, doubt, possibility or impossibility. Notice, however, that the subjuncitve is not always used in English in the following examples:
1 Il est urgent qu'il vienne. It is urgent that he come.
2 Il vaut mieux qu'il vienne. It is better that he come.
3 Il est possible qu'il vienne. It is possible that he will come.
4 Il est douteux qu'il vienne. It is doutful that he will come.
5 Il est nécessaire qu'il vienne. It is necessary that he come. or He must come.
6 Il faut qu'il vienne. It is necessary that he come. or He must come.
7 Il est important que vous fassiez le traveail. It is important that you do the work.
8 Il est indispensable qu'elle fasse le travail. It is required that she do the work.
Tense No. 7 L'imparfait du subjonctif ( Imperfect subjunctive)
L'imparfait du subjonctif is used for the same reasons as the Présent du subjonctif ---- that is, after certain verbs, conjunctions, and impersonal expressions which were used in examples above under the section, le Présent du subjonctif. The main difference between these two is the time of the action. If present, use the Présent du subjonctif. If the action is related to the past, the Imparfait du subjonctif is used, provided that the action was not completed. If the action was completed, the Plus-que-parfait du subjonctif is used.
Since the Subjunctive Mood is troublesome in French and English, you may be pleased to know that this tense is rarely used in English. It is used in French, however, but only in formal writing and in literature. For that reason, you should merely be familiar with it so you can recognize it when you see it in your French readings. In conversational French and in informal writing, l'Imparfait du subjonctif is avoided. Use, instead, the Présent du subjonctif.
Notice that the Imparfait du subjonctif is used in French in both of the following examples, but is used in English only in the second example (b):
a Je voulais qu'il vînt. I wanted him to come (action not completed; he did not come while I wanted him to come)
Note: The Subjunctive of venir is used because the verb that precedes is one that requires the Subjunctive after it----- in this example it is vouloir. In conversational French and informal writing, the imparfait du subjonctif is avoided. Use, instead, the présent du subjonctif : Je voulais qu'il vienne.
b Je le lui explique pour qu'elle le comprît.
I was explaining it to her so that she might understand it. (action not completed; the understanding was not completed at the time of the explaining)
Note: The Subjunctive of comprendre is used because the conjunction that precedes is one that requires the Subjunctive after it---- in the example it is pour que. In conversational French and informal writing, the imparfait du subjonctif is avoided. Use, instead, the présent du subjonctif: Je le lui expliquais pour qu'elle le comprenne.
THE SEVEN COMPOUND TENSES
Tense No. 8 Le passé composé ( past indefinite or compound past)
The past tense is used in conversational French, correspondence, and other informal writing. The passé composé is used more and more in literature these days and is taking the place of the passé simple. It is a compound tense because it is formed with the présent de l'indicatif of avoir or être (depending on which of these two auxiliaries is required to form a compound tense) plus the past participle.
1 Il est allé à l'école. He went to school.
2 Il est allé à l'école. He did go to school.
3 Il est allé à l'école. He has gone to school.
4 J'ai mangé dans ce restaurant beaucoup de fois. I have eaten in this restaurant many times.
Note: In examples 3 and 4 in English the verb is formed with the present tense of to have (have or has) plus the past participle of the verb you are using. In English, this form is called the present perfect.
5 J'ai parlé au garçon. I spoke to the boy. or I did speak to the boy.
Tense No. 9 Le plus-que-parfait de l'indicatifi (pluperfect or past indicative)
In French and English this tense is used to express an action which happened in the past before another past action. Since it is used in relation to another past action, the other past action is expressed in either the passé composé or the imparfait de l'indicatif in French. This tense is used informal writing and literature as well as in conversational French and informal writing . The correct use of this tense is strictly observed in French. In English, however, too often we neglect to use it correctly. It is a compound tense becuase it is formed with the imparfait de l'indicatif of avoir or être (depending on which of these two auxiliaries is required to form a compound tense) plus the past participle.
a Je me suis rappelé que j'avais oublié de le lui dire. I remembered that I had forgotten to tell him.
Note: It would be incorrect in English to say: I remembered I forgot to tell him. The point here is that first I forgot; then, I remembered. Both actions are in the past. The action point here is that first I forgot; then, I remembered. Both actions are in the past. The action that occurred in the past before the other past action is the Pluperfect. And in this example it is i had forgotten ( j'avais oublié).
b J'avais étudié la leçon que le professeur a expliquée
I had studied the lesson which the teacher explained.
Note: First I studied the lesson; then, the teacher explained it. Both actions are in the past. The action that occurred in the past before the other past action is in the pluperfect. And in this example it is I had studied (j'avais étudié). If you say j'ai étudié la leçon que le professeur avait expliquée, you are saying that you studied the lesson which the teacher had explained. In other words, the teacher explained the lesson first and then you studied it.
c J'étais fatigué ce matin parce que je n'avais pas dormi. I was tired this morning because I had not slept.
Tense No. 10 Le passé antérieur
(past anterior)
This tense is similar to the plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif . The main difference is that in French it is a literary tense; that is, it is used in formal writing, such as history and literature. More and more French writers today use the plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif instead of this tense. Generally speaking, the passé antérieur is to the plus-que-parfait waht the passé simple is to the passé composé. The passé antérieur is a compound tense. In French, it is formed with the passé simple of avoir or être (depending on which of these two auxiliaries is required to form a compound tense) plus the past participle. In English, it is formed in the same way as the pluperfect or past perfect. This tense is ordinarily introduced by conjunctions of time: après que, aussitôt que, dès que, lorsque, quand.
Quand il eut mangé son dessert, il partit. When he had eaten his dessert, he left.
Note: In conversational French and informal writing, the plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif is used instead: Quand il avait mangé son dessert, il est parti. The translation into English is the same.
Tense No. 11 Le futur antérieur (future perfect or future anterior)
In French and English this tense is used to express an action which will happen in the future before another future action. Since it is used in relation to another future action, the other future action is expressed in the simple future in French, but not always in the simple future in English. In French, it is used in conversation and informal writing as well as in formal writing and in literature. It is a compound tense because it is formed with the Futur of avoir or être (depending on which of these two auxiliaries is required to form a compound tense) plus the past participle of the verb you are using. In English, it is formed by using shall have or will have plus the past participle of the verb you are using.
a Elle arrivera demain et j'aurai fini le travail. She will arrive tomorrow and I shall have finished the work.
Note: First, I shall finish the work; then, she will arrive. The action that will occur in the future before the other future action is in the Futur antérieur.
b Quand elle arrivera demain, j'aurai fini le travail. When she arrives tomorrow, I shall have finished the work.
Note: the idea of future time here is the same as in example above. In English the present tense is used ( when she arrives...) to express a near future. In French, the futur is used ( quand elle arrivera... ) because quand precedes and the action will take place in the future.
Tense No. 12 le conditionnel passé (conditional perfect)
This is used in French and English to express an action that you would have done if something else had been possible; that is, you would have done something on condition that something else had been possible. It is a compound tense because it is formed with the conditionnel présent of avoir or être plus the past participle of the verb you are using. In English, it is formed by using would have plus the past participle. Observe the difference between the following examples and the one given for the use of the conditional présent which was explained and illustrated in Tense no.5 above.
a J'aurais fait the travail si j'avais étudié. I would have done the work if I had studied.
b J'aurais fait le travail si j'avais eu le temps.
I would have done the work if I had had the time.
Note further: The French verb devoir plus the infinitive is used to express the idea of should when you mean ought to. The past participle of devoir is dû. It is conjugated with avoir.
J'aurais dû étudier.
I should have studied or i ought to have studied.
Tense No 13 le passé du subjonctif ( past or perfect subjunctive)
This tense is used to express an action which took place in the past in relation to the present time. It is like the passé composé, except that the auxiliary verb ( avoir or être) is in the présent du subjonctif. The Subjunctive is used ( as was noted in the previous sections of verb tenses in the Subjunctive) because what precedes is a certain verb, a certain conjunction or a certain impersonal expression.
a a past action in relation to the present:
Il est possible qu'elle soit partie.
It is possible that she may have left. or It is possible that she has left.
Je doute qu'il ait fait cela. I doubt that he did that.