Understanding the passé simple de l'indicatif: Formation and implementation
Le passé simple de l'indicatif or the future simple is used to express an intention to do something (a project) in the future but also to express the imagination (a supposition). Our simple and clear explanations accompanied by many examples will allow you to master the use and the rules of formation of the future simple of the indicative.
» Usage of passé simple de l'indicatif
» Formation of passé simple de l'indicatif
Usage of Le passé simple de l'indicatif
The simple future tense of the indicative is used to express a future fact/action , which has not yet taken place when we are speaking.
Formation of passé simple de l'indicatif in French
To form the simple past of the indicative, you must memorize the endings of the conjugated verbs. These vary according to the group to which the verb belongs.
Personal pronouns | 1st group | 2nd group | ||
je/j' | -ai | voyageai | -is | atterris |
tu | -as | voyageas | -is | atterris |
il/elle/on | -a | voyagea | -it | atterit |
nous | -âmes | voyageâmes | -îmes | atterrîmes |
vous | -âtes | voyageâtes | -îtes | atterrîtes |
ils/elles | -èrent | voyagèrent | -irent | atterrirent |
Verbs in the third group have three ending patterns :
3rd group | 1st model | 2nd model | 3rd model | |||
je/j' | -is | compris | -us | courus | -ins | vins |
tu | -is | compris | -us | courus | -ins | vins |
il/elle/on | -it | comprit | -ut | courut | -int | vint |
nous | -îmes | comprîmes | -ûmes | courûmes | -înmes | vînmes |
vous | -îtes | comprîtes | -ûtes | courûtes | -întes | vîntes |
ils/elles | -irent | comprirent | -urent | coururent | -inrent | vinrent |
NB : The past participle of a verb can help you conjugate it in the simple past of the indicative. Attention ! It doesn't always work.
Example: See -> past participle: saw -> I saw, you saw, he/she saw, we saw, you saw, they saw.
The auxiliaries to be and to have are part of the verbs of the third group, but they have a particular conjugation which must be mastered since they make it possible to construct the past tense of the indicative of all the other verbs.
être | avoir | |
je/j' | fus | eus |
tu | fus | eus |
il/elle/on | fut | eut |
nous | fûmes | eûmes |
vous | fûtes | eûtes |
ils/elles | furent | eurent |
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