Verb drill
French historical present: retell a past scene in the present
Retell yesterday’s events with present verbs. A study table, ten transformations and a timeline check practise the French présent de narration.
- B2
- 10 answers
- Checked all at once
- Accents count
- Learn this in the B2 notebook →
In short
French can tell a past event with present verbs: Hier, j’entre et je découvre la surprise. Hier keeps the event in the past; the present brings us into the scene. This is the présent de narration, often called présent historique in historical accounts.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
| Past account | Narrative present |
|---|---|
| Hier, j’ai ouvert le message. | Hier, j’ouvre le message. |
| Puis nous avons compris. | Puis nous comprenons. |
| Enfin, elle a répondu. | Enfin, elle répond. |
Keep the actor and event order: first opening, then understanding, then answering. The tense changes the viewpoint. The words hier, ce jour-là or a past date establish when the events occur. Once the frame is clear, a whole sequence can continue in the present without repeating the date.
Retell yesterday’s rehearsal
The scene is yesterday evening, just before a rehearsal. Fill the gaps with the present form of the verb in brackets. The first six sentences make one connected anecdote. The last four change subject, so check the person as well as the stem.
1 · One scene: six events
- Hier soir, j’ pour la répétition. (arriver)
- J’ des voix derrière la porte. (entendre)
- Je et quelqu’un me répond. (frapper)
- J’ : tout le groupe est déjà là. (entrer)
- Soudain, je : la répétition commence plus tôt ! (comprendre)
- Je ma place et nous commençons. (prendre)
2 · Change the subject, keep the past frame
- Ce jour-là, nous la nouvelle version du texte. (découvrir)
- Puis Léa la première réplique. (lire)
- Ensuite, vous une pause. (faire)
- À la fin, les participants . (applaudir)
What is the historical present in French?
En 2018, Léa rejoint une troupe. Elle a déjà joué dans deux spectacles. L’année suivante, elle montera sur scène avec ce nouveau groupe.
In 2018, Léa joins a theatre company. She has already performed in two shows. The following year, she will take the stage with this new group.
The two shows precede the joining. The future looks ahead from 2018 to 2019, inside the past account.
The narrative present gives this paragraph a temporary “now”: 2018. The passé composé looks back from that point; the future looks forward. Other tenses can still supply background or commentary. Keep a clear reason for each change of viewpoint, so the reader can follow the sequence.