FRENCH NOTE 20
USE OF PRESENT TENSE IN THE INDICATIVE MOOD
Before proceeding further with more verbs of the first group, let me give a note on the use of present tense in the indicative mood. Most often we use the present tense. Hence it is imperative that we grasp its nuances.
1. Present tense tells us what is happening in the present moment. In English we have the present continuous or progressive tense which is not there in French . Study the following examples.
Je regarde la télé .
I am watching tv.
Je lis un roman.
I am reading a novel.
Maman fait la cuisine.
Mother is cooking.
Elle prend du petit déjeuner .
She is having breakfast .
Hope you understand.
To emphasize that an action is going on at this moment, you can use the expression,
" être en train de faire quelque chose "
" to be on the point of doing something "
Je suis en train de préparer une leçon .
I am on the point of preparing a lesson.
Remember the above English version does not sound good . Simply use the English continuous tense.
I am preparing a lesson.
2. HABITUAL /ROUTINE ACTIONS
Normally in any language , to express habitual actions we use the present tense. French is no exception.
Le dimanche , je vais au cinéma .
I go to cinema on Sundays.
Note the use of " le dimanche " . When you are habitually doing something on a day, use ," le dimanche, le lundi , le mardi and so on.
The above sentence means that every Sunday you are in the habit of going to cinema.
Hope you got the point.
Je ne fume jamais .
I never smoke.
That means, you don't have the habit of smoking.
À Bangalore , il fait beau toute l'année .
In Bangalore, the weather is fine throughout the year.
Je me réveille à six heures du matin.
I wake up at six o' clock in the morning.
That means everyday you wake up at six, as a habit.
3. EXPRESSING FUTURE BY USING PRESENT
This happens in many language. For example , in English we say,
John, tomorrow , I am coming to your place.
Kids , I am promising you a treat next week , if you get good grades.
Similar use is permitted in French .
Demain, mon père vient de Delhi.
Tomorrow, my father comes from Delhi.
En été , nous allons à Ooty.
We are going to Ooty in summer.
4. HISTORIC PRESENT
For a lively presentation of historical narrative, the present tense is used.
Le père d' Alexandre Dumas meurt alors qu'il n'a que quatre ans. La famille Dumas est assez pauvre. Alexandre arrête tôt ses études pour gagner de l'argent . À vingt ans, il va à Paris et trouve du travail .
En 1589, Henri IV, le père de Louis XIII, devient roi avec l'aide des nobles de Gascogne.
Note that all the verbs in the above narration are in the present tense.
5. UNIVERSAL /SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS
All truths supposed to be universal and scientific truths are normally expressed in the present tense.
L' homme est mortel.
Man is mortal.
Le serpent est venimeux .
Snakes are poisonous .
La terre tourne autour du soleil.
Earth revolves around the sun.
Hope I made my point clear.
To be continued.
Sayee Jayaraman
27/11/2014
27/01/2015
USE OF PRESENT TENSE IN THE INDICATIVE MOOD
Before proceeding further with more verbs of the first group, let me give a note on the use of present tense in the indicative mood. Most often we use the present tense. Hence it is imperative that we grasp its nuances.
1. Present tense tells us what is happening in the present moment. In English we have the present continuous or progressive tense which is not there in French . Study the following examples.
Je regarde la télé .
I am watching tv.
Je lis un roman.
I am reading a novel.
Maman fait la cuisine.
Mother is cooking.
Elle prend du petit déjeuner .
She is having breakfast .
Hope you understand.
To emphasize that an action is going on at this moment, you can use the expression,
" être en train de faire quelque chose "
" to be on the point of doing something "
Je suis en train de préparer une leçon .
I am on the point of preparing a lesson.
Remember the above English version does not sound good . Simply use the English continuous tense.
I am preparing a lesson.
2. HABITUAL /ROUTINE ACTIONS
Normally in any language , to express habitual actions we use the present tense. French is no exception.
Le dimanche , je vais au cinéma .
I go to cinema on Sundays.
Note the use of " le dimanche " . When you are habitually doing something on a day, use ," le dimanche, le lundi , le mardi and so on.
The above sentence means that every Sunday you are in the habit of going to cinema.
Hope you got the point.
Je ne fume jamais .
I never smoke.
That means, you don't have the habit of smoking.
À Bangalore , il fait beau toute l'année .
In Bangalore, the weather is fine throughout the year.
Je me réveille à six heures du matin.
I wake up at six o' clock in the morning.
That means everyday you wake up at six, as a habit.
3. EXPRESSING FUTURE BY USING PRESENT
This happens in many language. For example , in English we say,
John, tomorrow , I am coming to your place.
Kids , I am promising you a treat next week , if you get good grades.
Similar use is permitted in French .
Demain, mon père vient de Delhi.
Tomorrow, my father comes from Delhi.
En été , nous allons à Ooty.
We are going to Ooty in summer.
4. HISTORIC PRESENT
For a lively presentation of historical narrative, the present tense is used.
Le père d' Alexandre Dumas meurt alors qu'il n'a que quatre ans. La famille Dumas est assez pauvre. Alexandre arrête tôt ses études pour gagner de l'argent . À vingt ans, il va à Paris et trouve du travail .
En 1589, Henri IV, le père de Louis XIII, devient roi avec l'aide des nobles de Gascogne.
Note that all the verbs in the above narration are in the present tense.
5. UNIVERSAL /SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS
All truths supposed to be universal and scientific truths are normally expressed in the present tense.
L' homme est mortel.
Man is mortal.
Le serpent est venimeux .
Snakes are poisonous .
La terre tourne autour du soleil.
Earth revolves around the sun.
Hope I made my point clear.
To be continued.
Sayee Jayaraman
27/11/2014
27/01/2015
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