The Simple Present Made Simple! - Le Présent simple simplifié!

To conjugate verbs in the present, for I, you, we, you and they, the infinitive without the "to"! Example: (verb to speak) I speak, you speak, we speak, you speak, they speak

Only at the third person singular (he, she, it), verbs can change!

RULE 1: Can (pouvoir in French), may (permission to do something), must (obligation, necessity) = no change! Examples: She can speak English. The boy may go to the washroom. He must practice soccer.

RULE 2: Have = has! Example: He has no money.

RULE 3: Verbs in consonant + y = ies! Example: (verb to fly) She flies with Air Canada. Verbs in vowel + y = s! Example: (verb to play) He plays the guitar.

RULE 4: All other verbs, add s! If it is difficult to pronounce or it is an o verb, add es! Examples: (verb to love) She loves her mother. (verb to go) He goes to the park. (verb to watch) My dad watches tv a lot.

Here are two verbs fully conjugated in the simple present:

Can                                       Swim

I can        We can                 I swim           We swim
You can   You can                You swim      You swim
He can     They can              He swims      They swim
She can                                She swims
It can                                    It swims

***The only irregular verb is to be (être in French): I am (I'm), You are (You're), He is (He's), It is (It's), We are (We're), You are (You're), They are (They're).

USAGE: We use the simple present for facts, everyday characteristics....
Examples: Montréal has a population of about 1.8 million people. The Earth goes around the sun. My students can speak French. Some of my students play the piano.

À mes élèves: Si vous ne comprenez pas assez bien ces explications, parlez-m'en à l'école ou envoyez-moi un courriel. Thank you.