The use of present tense
As mentioned in the General Grammar section unlike in English in French there
is not a continuous present tense: I am singing.
If we want to emphasize the fact that, for example, I am in the process of
singing, we use the following expression: être en train de = to be +
en train de + infinitive form
| Je suis en train de chanter devant le public | I’m singing in front of the audience | |
| Tu es en train de parler avec son directeur | You are speaking to his director | |
| Nous sommes en train de finir un essai sur la philosophie | We are finishing an essay on philosophy | |
| Vous êtes en train de voir un film sur l’Angleterre | You are watching a film on England | |
| Ils sont en train de dessiner un portrait | They are drawing a portrait |
In French the present is represented by one tense only and is used:
Now we've had a look at the use of the present tense in French it's time to consider the other tenses in the indicative mood:, first a look at what the past tenses are: Indicative: Past Tense