Present tense

    AQA
    GCSE

    The Present Indicative (le présent de l'indicatif) serves as the cornerstone of French verbal morphology, functioning not only to describe current actions but also habitual states, universal truths, and immediate future events. Mastery requires precise manipulation of the three conjugation groups (-er, -ir, -re), command of high-frequency irregulars, and the ability to distinguish between English continuous aspects and French simple aspects.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for correct subject-verb agreement in all persons, particularly third-person plural distinctions (ils/elles)
    • Credit accurate placement of negative particles 'ne... pas' surrounding the conjugated verb
    • Reward the correct use of stem-changing verbs (e.g., appeler, jeter) and spelling changes (e.g., -ger to -geons)
    • Assess the manipulation of reflexive verbs, ensuring the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "Check subject-verb agreement specifically for 'mon ami et moi' – this requires the 'nous' form"
    • "You have used the infinitive 'jouer' here; conjugate it to match the subject 'je'"
    • "Excellent use of the reflexive verb; ensure the negative 'ne... pas' surrounds both the pronoun and the verb"
    • "To access higher marks, vary your verbs beyond 'faire' and 'jouer' to include irregulars like 'prendre' or 'voir'"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for correct subject-verb agreement in all persons, particularly third-person plural distinctions (ils/elles)
    • Credit accurate placement of negative particles 'ne... pas' surrounding the conjugated verb
    • Reward the correct use of stem-changing verbs (e.g., appeler, jeter) and spelling changes (e.g., -ger to -geons)
    • Assess the manipulation of reflexive verbs, ensuring the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Identify the time frame immediately; if the bullet point asks 'what you usually do', strictly apply the present tense
    • 💡Prioritize the accuracy of 'avoir' and 'être'; these are the most heavily penalized errors in Foundation Writing
    • 💡When translating into French, check the subject carefully; 'my parents' requires the 'ils' form, not 'il'
    • 💡Use complex structures like 'depuis' + present tense to express actions continuing from the past, a key discriminator for higher marks

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Omission of the reflexive pronoun in reflexive verbs (e.g., writing 'je lave' instead of 'je me lave')
    • Confusion between 'avoir' and 'être' in idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'je suis 15 ans' instead of 'j'ai 15 ans')
    • Failure to conjugate the verb after a subject pronoun, leaving it in the infinitive (e.g., 'je jouer')
    • Incorrect conjugation of the 'vous' form for 'faire' (writing 'faisez' instead of 'faites')

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

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