Passé simple in french: French Present simple tense

The passé simple is a tense used primarily in literary French to describe actions that were completed in the past. Here’s a detailed description of its formation, including rules and exceptions for regular and irregular verbs.

Formation of Passé Simple

1. Regular Verbs

1. First Group Verbs (-er verbs)
2. • Example Verb: parler (to speak)
   • Conjugation Pattern:
     • je parlai
     • tu parlas
     • il/elle/on parla
     • nous parlâmes
     • vous parlâtes
     • ils/elles parlèrent
3. Rules:
   • Drop the -er ending to get the root (e.g., parl-).
   • Add the endings: -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent.
4. Second Group Verbs (-ir verbs)
   • Example Verb: finir (to finish)
   • Conjugation Pattern:
     • je finis
     • tu finis
     • il/elle/on finit
     • nous finîmes
     • vous finîtes
     • ils/elles finirent
5. Rules:
   • Drop the -ir ending to get the root (e.g., fin-).
   • Add the endings: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.
7. Third Group Verbs (irregular or mixed)
   • Example Verb: vendre (to sell)
   • Conjugation Pattern:
     • je vendis
     • tu vendis
     • il/elle/on vendit
     • nous vendîmes
     • vous vendîtes
     • ils/elles vendirent
8. Rules:
   • Drop the -re ending to get the root (e.g., vend-).
   • Add the endings: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.
10. For verbs like prendre:
    • je pris
    • tu pris
    • il/elle/on prit
    • nous prîmes
    • vous prîtes
    • ils/elles prirent
11. Rules:
    • The root changes from prend- to pr-.
    • Add the endings: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.

Irregular Verbs

1. Être (to be)
   • je fus
   • tu fus
   • il/elle/on fut
   • nous fûmes
   • vous fûtes
   • ils/elles furent
2. Root: fu- Endings: -s, -s, -t, -mes, -tes, -rent

1. Avoir (to have)
   • je eus
   • tu eus
   • il/elle/on eut
   • nous eûmes
   • vous eûtes
   • ils/elles eurent
2. Root: eu- Endings: -s, -s, -t, -mes, -tes, -ent

1. Aller (to go)
   • je allai
   • tu allas
   • il/elle/on alla
   • nous allâmes
   • vous allâtes
   • ils/elles allèrent
2. Root: all- Endings: -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent

1. Voir (to see)
   • je vis
   • tu vis
   • il/elle/on vit
   • nous vîmes
   • vous vîtes
   • ils/elles virent
2. Root: v- Endings: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent

1. Faire (to do/make)
   • je fis
   • tu fis
   • il/elle/on fit
   • nous fîmes
   • vous fîtes
   • ils/elles firent
2. Root: f- Endings: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent

1. Venir (to come)
   • je vins
   • tu vins
   • il/elle/on vint
   • nous vînmes
   • vous vîntes
   • ils/elles vinrent
2. Root: vin- Endings: -ins, -ins, -int, -înmes, -întes, -inrent

Rules and Exceptions

• Regular Verbs: Follow the standard endings based on their group. Regular verbs in the first and second groups follow predictable patterns. The third group verbs vary and may need to be memorized, especially for irregular forms.
• Irregular Verbs: These verbs have unique roots and sometimes different endings that do not follow the regular patterns. They often need to be learned individually due to their exceptions to the standard conjugation rules.
• Literary Usage: The passé simple is primarily used in written French, particularly in literary contexts. In everyday spoken French, the passé composé is used instead.

Understanding these rules and practicing with different verbs will help in mastering the passé simple.