Present or Past Tense

William C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Present or Past Tense

Why are there different tenses? Past tense in English but present tense in French.
Asked 7 years ago
Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour William, If I am understanding your question correctly, the answer will have to do with syntax structure difference. There are several instances where French syntax is nothing like English syntax. A French teacher that I had loved to tell the class that «French is not simply English translated into French». By that she meant that one cannot simply translate an English sentence into French on a word-for-word basis, phrasing is different as is adjective placement and a couple of other differences. J'espère que cela vous aiderait.

Present or Past Tense

Why are there different tenses? Past tense in English but present tense in French.

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