Present (Présent)
As its name indicates, the present tense is used to describe actions
taking place in the present. French has only one present tense, while English
can express present actions four different ways. Compare:
I work
I am working
I do work
I have been working
In French these are all expressed by: je travaille.
Three special structures can be used to emphasize or skew the time frame
of the present:
1. To emphasize the present and to express being "in the midst" of an
activity, use the expression, "être en train de
+ infinitive":
-
Je suis en train de travailler. I am in the middle
of working.
2. To use the present tense to indicate the recent
past, use "venir de + infinitive":
-
Nous venons de finir notre déjeuner. We just
finished our lunch.
-
Elle vient d'arriver. She just arrived.
The recent past construction may also be used in the imperfect to express
a pluperfect
meaning.
3. To use the present tense to refer to the
near future (futur proche), use "aller
+ infinitive":
-
Elle va repartir demain matin. She is going to leave
again tomorrow morning.
-
Ce matin, nous allons faire le ménage. This
morning we are going to clean up the house.
In addition, French uses the present tense
in certain phrases to express actions which began in the past but which
are ongoing. These expressions include "depuis", "il y a... que",
"voici... que", "voilà... que", "ça fait...
que", and the interrogatives, "depuis quand..." and "depuis
combien de temps...":
-
Je suis à Paris depuis trois semaines. I have
been in Paris for three weeks.
-
Ça fait des années qu'il raconte cette histoire! He
has been telling that story for years!
-
Depuis quand êtes-vous au Québec? How
long have you been in Quebec?
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