Uses of Present Tense

Uses of Present Tense

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The present tense is used in five instances:

1. an action that is going on:

J’apprends le français à FRENCH ETC.

I am learning French at FRENCH ETC.

1. a general statement:

On apprend bien le français à FRENCH ETC.

One learns French well at FRENCH ETC.

1. a habitual or lasting action:

Je vais en cours à FRENCH ETC.

I go to school at FRENCH ETC.

1. with time expressions:

J’attends le bus depuis 15h30.

I have been waiting for the bus since 3:30 p.m.

Je fais du français avec FRENCH ETC. depuis une année.

I’ve been studying French with FRENCH ETC. for a year.

Il y a six mois que je fais du français avec FRENCH ETC.

I’ve been studying French with FRENCH ETC. for six months.

Ça fait six mois que je fais du français avec FRENCH ETC.

I’ve been studying French with FRENCH ETC. for six months.

1. when expressing an immediate action:

Je vais apprendre le français à FRENCH ETC. la semaine prochaine.

I’m going to learn French at FRENCH ETC. next week.

In English, the present tense has two forms:

1. the simple present: I learn
2. the progressive present: I am learning. French doesn’t use the helping verb am –ing, is –ing are –ing. Instead, when insisting about the on-going aspect of the action, French uses être en train de.

Je ne peux pas laver la vaisselle car je suis en train de faire mes devoirs.

I can’t wash the dishes because I am doing my homework (right now).

Related:

depuis

il y a … que, ça fait … que

Present tense formation

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