Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Master the présent de l'indicatif with essential verbs like « manger » (to eat), « finir » (to finish), and « vendre » (to sell), learning their conjugations to express current actions clearly in French.
1er groupe - Manger (1st group - To eat)2ème groupe - Finir (2nd group - Finish)3ème groupe - Voir (3rd group - See)3ème groupe - Vendre (3rd group - To sell)3ème groupe - Lire (3rd group - Read)
Je mangeJe finisJe voisJe vendsJe lis
Tu mangesTu finisTu voisTu vendsTu lis
Il mangeIl finitIl voitIl vendIl lit
Nous mangeonsNous finissonsNous voyonsNous vendonsNous lisons
Vous mangezVous finissezVous voyezVous vendezVous lisez
Ils mangent Ils finissentIls voientIls vendentIls lisent

Exercise 1: Résumé du présent de l'indicatif

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

ressens, prends, manges, finis, vois, pense, vis, demandons

1. Penser :
Mon frère ... que je suis triste.
(My brother thinks I am sad.)
2. Ressentir :
Je ... de la tristesse quand tu n'es pas là.
(I feel sadness when you are not here.)
3. Voir :
Je ... que ta mère est contente de sa journée.
(I see that your mother is happy with her day.)
4. Manger :
Tu ... beaucoup quand tu es énervé.
(You eat a lot when you are angry.)
5. Demander :
Nous ... aux enfants s'ils se sentent bien.
(We ask the children if they are feeling well.)
6. Finir :
Tous les soirs, je ... ma journée fatigué.
(Every evening, I end my day tired.)
7. Prendre :
Tu ... du temps pour toi quand tu es malheureux.
(You take time for yourself when you are unhappy.)
8. Vivre :
Je ... en France depuis dix ans.
(I have been living in France for ten years.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Je ___ de la joie quand je suis content.

(I ___ joy when I am happy.)

2. Tu ___ souvent à tes amis.

(You ___ often about your friends.)

3. Nous nous ___ heureux aujourd'hui.

(We ___ happy today.)

4. Il ___ de la fatigue après le travail.

(He ___ tired after work.)

5. Vous ___ que ce film est bien.

(You ___ that this movie is good.)

6. Ils se ___ nerveux avant l'examen.

(They ___ nervous before the exam.)

Summary of the Present Indicative in French

The present indicative tense (le présent de l'indicatif) is essential in French for expressing actions occurring at the current moment. It is one of the first tenses beginners learn because it allows you to describe what is happening now or habitual actions.

Verb Groups and Conjugation Patterns

French verbs are divided into three groups, each following specific conjugation endings in the present tense:

  • First group verbs (-er verbs): For example, manger (to eat).
  • Second group verbs (-ir verbs with -issons ending): For example, finir (to finish).
  • Third group verbs (irregular verbs): This group includes various verbs such as voir (to see), vendre (to sell), and lire (to read).

Examples of Conjugations

Here are typical forms of verbs from each group conjugated in the present indicative:

  • Je mange (I eat)
  • Tu finis (You finish)
  • Il voit (He sees)
  • Nous vendons (We sell)
  • Vous lisez (You read)
  • Ils finissent (They finish)

Usage of the Present Indicative

The present indicative is mainly used to talk about actions happening right now, general truths, or habitual actions. For example, Je ressens de la joie quand je suis content means "I feel joy when I am happy." This helps learners express ongoing feelings or states.

Important Notes on French vs. English

Unlike English, where the present continuous ("I am eating") is used to indicate ongoing actions, French generally uses the present indicative instead (Je mange). Also, French verbs conjugate by person and number with distinct endings, whereas English uses the base verb mostly unchanged except for the third person singular.

Some useful everyday verbs to recognize and practice include:

  • Sentir – to feel (as in emotions or physical sensations)
  • Penser – to think
  • Voir – to see
  • Lire – to read

Mastering the present tense and key verbs allows you to form basic but essential sentences to communicate in French.

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Azéline Perrin

Bachelor Degree in Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 05:14