Before tak La concordance des temps – sequence of tenses – you need know tenses and modes pretty well. You may find yourself pretty lost otherwise.
La concordance des temps – the sequence of tenses – is the relationship between a verb in the main clause and the verb in its subordinate clause. It expresses the chronology between the two clauses. In French, just like in English, there is a correct sequence of tenses.
For instance, you have to say:
- Si je faisais du français l’année prochaine, j’irais à Paris.
- If I were to take French next year, I’d go to Paris.
- Quand je serai à Paris, je visiterai la Tour Eiffel.
- When I am in Paris, I’ll visit the Eiffel Tower.
And you can not say:
- Quand je suis à Paris, je visiterai la Tour Eiffel.
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Practice in the boxes below, matching the number for the triggering clause with the letter for the subordinate clause.
Triggering clause | Subordinate clause | ||
Elle ne veut pas | 1 | A | que nous irions à Nice. |
Elles pensaient | 2 | B | que l’examen aura été trop dur. |
Il faudra | 3 | C | que tu l’aides trop. |
Ils trouveront | 4 | D | que vous soyez plus calmes. |
Je souhaiterais | 5 | E | qu’elles aient fini leurs devoirs. |
Match the number and the letter
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
C |
Solution - Answers
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
C |
A |
E |
B |
D |
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