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.

On this page you will find

» 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.