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The meanings of the simple tenses of the indicative
The meanings of the simple tenses of the indicative
Present tense
Present of enunciation:
Used to express what is happening at the moment of speaking.
Example: Je lis un livre.
Present of general truth:
Used to express facts that are always true.
Example: L'eau bout à 100°C.
Present of narration:
Used in a story to make the action more vivid and immediate.
Example: Le héros entre dans la salle et s'assoit.
Present of habit:
Used to express repeated or regular actions.
Example: Chaque soir, il regarde la télévision.
Imperfect tense
Description:
Used to describe a past situation, state, or landscape.
Example: La mer était calme.
Habitual action:
Expresses an action that was repeated in the past.
Example: Quand j'étais petit, je jouais au foot.
Ongoing action (interrupted by another in the passé simple):
Indicates a long action that is interrupted by a short, completed action in the past.
Example: Je lisais quand il entra.
Simple past (passé simple)
Completed action:
Expresses a punctual, finished action in the past.
Example: Il se leva et sortit.
Series of rapid actions:
Used to tell short actions that follow one another in a story.
Example: Il ouvrit la porte, regarda la rue et disparut.
Future tense
Future of enunciation:
Expresses an action that will happen later.
Example: Demain, je partirai tôt.
Future of general truth:
Expresses something that is certain and always true.
Example: Le soleil se lèvera à l'est.
Historical or narrative future:
Used in certain stories to make past events more vivid.
Example: En 1515, François Ier gagnera la bataille de Marignan.
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