Hi pdf1455
The tenses in French can be encountered translated in different ways. Why ? Simply because the verb tense system in English and French don t exactely match. So either you can choose to literally translate each French tense in English or indicate their equivalency with the English tenses.
That is the difficulty. There isn t an standarized official correspondance between the two tense system.
So I recommend to review the one in English first if necessary to master it well and then look at the information below.
infinitif = infinitive verbs (aimer = to love)
participe présent = present participle (aimant = loving)
participe passé = past participle (aimé = loved)
indicatif = indicative
présent = present -equivalent to the simple present in English (J 'aime = I love)
imparfait = imperfect -equivalent to the simple past/ past progressive (Je mangeais - I was eating or I ate))
passé simple = this tense is a literary tense in French. It is not used in every day conversation, but rather in literature and poems. The tense use to translate into English is the simple past. (j'aimai, tu aimas)
futur simple = simple future (J 'aimerai I will love.)
formes composées / compound tenses
passé composé = coumpound past -but match best the simple past (J'ai aimé)
plus-que-parfait = pluperfect '-match the present perfect (Javais aimé - I have loved)
passé antérieur = it is also a literary tense. Know that it exists but dont worry about its conjugation if you are just interested in every day conversation. (j'eus aimé I had loved)
and futur antérieur = to express regret (J aurai aimé I would have loved)
For more example you can go to
http://www.leconjugueur.com
