French Verb Tenses: What Each One Is Actually For
Every French verb tense mapped to its job: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur, conditionnel and more - one clear example each.
French has several everyday tenses: présent (now), passé composé (completed past events), imparfait (background/habitual past), futur proche (near future), futur simple (later future), and conditionnel (hypotheticals, polite requests). Subjonctif and impératif are moods, not tenses - they express subjectivity and commands.
Quick answer
French has several everyday tenses: présent (now), passé composé (completed past events), imparfait (background/habitual past), futur proche (near future), futur simple (later future), and conditionnel (hypotheticals, polite requests). Subjonctif and impératif are moods, not tenses.
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For the full tense-priority order, see French conjugation guide.
The indicatif tenses (stating facts)
| Tense | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| présent | now, habitual | je mange |
| passé composé | completed event | j’ai mangé |
| imparfait | background, habit | je mangeais |
| plus-que-parfait | earlier past | j’avais mangé |
| futur proche | near future | je vais manger |
| futur simple | later future | je mangerai |
For the passé composé/imparfait decision specifically, see passé composé vs imparfait.
The conditionnel (hypotheticals and politeness)
je voudrais (I would like - the everyday polite request form) and the si + imparfait → conditionnel pattern for hypotheticals.
Mood vs tense: subjonctif and impératif
Subjonctif expresses subjectivity, not a point in time; impératif gives commands. See the French subjunctive for the full picture.
Which tenses to actually learn first
Présent, then passé composé and imparfait - these three cover the overwhelming majority of everyday spoken French.
Every tense, in real context
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Questions about this note
What's the difference between a tense and a mood?
Tense marks time (past/present/future); mood marks how real or subjective a statement is (subjunctive, imperative).
Which French tense should I learn first?
Présent, then passé composé and imparfait.
What is the conditionnel used for?
Hypotheticals (si clauses) and polite requests like je voudrais.
Is the subjunctive a tense?
No - it's a mood, triggered by certain que-phrases regardless of time.
How many French tenses are there?
Around a dozen forms across indicative, conditional and subjunctive moods, but everyday speech uses far fewer.