Present (le présent)
We use it to talk about things happening now or things that are always true.
Construction: subject + verb (in the present form)
Example: I eat → Je mange
Past (le passé composé)
We use it to talk about things that already happened and are finished.
Construction: subject + auxiliary (avoir or être in present) + past participle
Example: I ate → J’ai mangé
Near Future (le futur proche)
We use it to talk about things that are going to happen soon.
Construction: subject + aller (present) + infinitive verb
Example: I am going to eat → Je vais manger
Simple Futur (le futur simple)
We use it to talk about things that will happen later.
Construction: subject + verb (infinitive + future ending)
Endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
Example: I will eat → Je mangerai
Imperfect (l’imparfait)
We use it to talk about things in the past that were repeated, long, or for descriptions.
Construction: stem (nous form in present without -ons) + endings
Endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
Example: I was eating / I used to eat → Je mangeais
