Tenses

Use it for routines, general truths and stable situations: I live in Nantes. Stable does not mean permanent forever.Pour les habitudes, vérités générales et situations stables : I live in Nantes. Stable ne veut pas dire définitif.

He, she, it: add -s. Go → goes; watch → watches; study → studies. Have → has. After does, use the base verb: Does she work?He, she, it : ajoutez -s. Go → goes ; watch → watches ; study → studies. Have → has. Après does, gardez la base : Does she work?

Be is different: I am; you/we/they are; he/she/it is. Negatives: is not. Questions: Is she ready? No do/does.Be est différent : I am ; you/we/they are ; he/she/it is. Négation : is not. Question : Is she ready? Sans do/does.

Usually, often and never normally go before the main verb, but after be: She often walks. She is often late.Usually, often et never se placent généralement avant le verbe principal, mais après be : She often walks. She is often late.

Also used for timetables (The train leaves at six) and future time clauses (I will call when I arrive). Do not add will after when in this type of time clause.Aussi pour les horaires (The train leaves at six) et après when dans une subordonnée de temps future (I will call when I arrive). Pas de will après when dans ce cas.

An activity can be happening at this second or around now: I am reading a long novel this week. You need not be holding the book as you speak.L’activité peut se dérouler à cette seconde ou sur la période actuelle : I am reading a long novel this week. Vous ne tenez pas forcément le livre en parlant.

Use it for temporary situations and changes: We are staying with friends. Prices are rising.Pour les situations temporaires et les changements : We are staying with friends. Prices are rising.

For an arranged future event, add a future time: I am meeting Jo tomorrow. The arrangement exists now; the meeting is later.Pour un rendez-vous futur organisé, ajoutez un repère futur : I am meeting Jo tomorrow. L’organisation existe maintenant ; le rendez-vous est plus tard.

With always, it can express a repeated behaviour with emotion: You are always losing your keys!Avec always, il peut exprimer une répétition chargée d’émotion : You are always losing your keys!

Spelling: work → working; make → making; run → running; lie → lying. In British English: travel → travelling.Orthographe : work → working ; make → making ; run → running ; lie → lying. En anglais britannique : travel → travelling.

State meanings normally use simple forms: I know, I own, I believe. Some verbs change meaning: I think (= believe) / I am thinking (= considering); I have a car / I am having lunch.Les états prennent généralement le simple : I know, I own, I believe. Certains verbes changent de sens : I think (= je pense que) / I am thinking (= je réfléchis) ; I have a car / I am having lunch.

Use it for a present result, life experience, or a total in a period continuing until now: I have sent six emails today.Pour un résultat actuel, une expérience vécue ou un bilan sur une période encore ouverte : I have sent six emails today.

It also describes states continuing until now: I have known her for years. Here the situation has not finished.Il décrit aussi les états qui durent jusqu’à maintenant : I have known her for years. Ici, la situation n’est pas terminée.

Past participle: regular verbs use -ed; learn irregular forms such as go → gone, see → seen, write → written. Has went is incorrect.Participe passé : -ed pour les verbes réguliers ; apprenez les irréguliers comme go → gone, see → seen, write → written. Has went est incorrect.

For = a duration (for three years). Since = a starting point (since 2023). They also occur with other tenses; they are not automatic tense selectors.For = une durée (for three years). Since = un point de départ (since 2023). Ces mots existent aussi avec d’autres temps.

Ever/never: life experience. Just/already: usually between have and the participle. Yet: usually at the end of a question or negative.Ever/never : expérience. Just/already : généralement entre have et le participe. Yet : généralement en fin de question ou de négation.

Use past simple with a finished past date: I saw her yesterday. Today can take either tense depending on whether you present an ongoing period or a finished event.Avec une date passée révolue, utilisez le past simple : I saw her yesterday. Today peut prendre les deux temps selon le point de vue.

She has been to Rome = she visited and returned. She has gone to Rome = she is away there or on the way.She has been to Rome = elle y est allée et revenue. She has gone to Rome = elle est partie à Rome, elle n’est pas revenue.

Focus on the activity, its duration or repeated effort, from before now up to now. It may still be continuing.On souligne l’activité, sa durée ou l’effort répété, depuis le passé jusqu’à maintenant. Elle peut continuer.

It may also have just stopped: I am out of breath because I have been running. Continuous does not always mean still happening.Elle peut aussi venir de s’arrêter : I am out of breath because I have been running. Le continu ne veut pas toujours dire que cela continue.

Use for + duration, since + starting point, or how long: How long have you been waiting?Utilisez for + durée, since + point de départ ou how long : How long have you been waiting?

For a number of completed items, use the simple: I have written three emails. For the process: I have been writing emails all morning.Pour compter les éléments terminés, utilisez le simple : I have written three emails. Pour le processus : I have been writing emails all morning.

With live, work and teach, both perfect forms can describe an ongoing duration: I have lived / have been living here for years.Avec live, work et teach, les deux perfect peuvent décrire une durée en cours : I have lived / have been living here for years.

Use the simple for state meanings: I have known her for years, not have been knowing. Keep been before the -ing verb.Utilisez le simple pour les états : I have known her for years, pas have been knowing. Gardez been avant le verbe en -ing.