Planned, ongoing or complete? Check the action in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Follow one message from a plan to a completed action. Compare French action-stage expressions, repair a misleading update and test three choices.

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Check the stage before the ending

Je vais répondre presents a future action; je suis en train de répondre puts the reply in progress; j’ai répondu reports it as complete. Keep that difference when you revise an update.

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A woman rereads a message on a blank laptop before sending it.
Je suis en train de relire describes an action in progress. Illustration: Atelier

How do you tell if an action is planned, ongoing or done in French?

What stage are we looking at?
StageFrench updateMeaning
PlanLéa va envoyer sa réponse.She is going to send her reply.
Just beforeLéa est sur le point d’envoyer sa réponse.She is about to send her reply.
In progressLéa est en train de rédiger sa réponse.She is writing her reply.
AttemptLéa a essayé d’envoyer sa réponse.She tried to send it; the outcome is still open.
ResultLéa a réussi à envoyer sa réponse.She managed to send it.

Drafting and sending are two actions. Elle a rédigé sa réponse tells you that the writing is complete; sending can still be the next step. Keep the action itself as well as its stage in view.

Read the update as a short exchange

La réponse est-elle partie ?
  1. Sami

    Tu as envoyé ta réponse ?

    Have you sent your reply?

  2. Léa

    Pas encore. Je suis en train de la relire.

    Not yet. I’m rereading it.

  3. Sami

    Tu vas l’envoyer aujourd’hui ?

    Are you going to send it today?

  4. Léa

    Oui, dès que j’aurai vérifié la date.

    Yes, as soon as I’ve checked the date.

Repair the part that changes the facts

  • Léa a envoyé sa réponse.Léa est en train de relire sa réponse.

    For the exchange above, the second sentence gives the current action. The first reports sending as complete, too early.

  • Léa a réussi de répondre.Léa a réussi à répondre.

    Use réussir à + infinitive for a successful result. An attempt uses essayer de.

À neuf heures, Léa était sur le point d’envoyer sa réponse, mais Sami l’a interrompue.

At nine, Léa was about to send her reply, but Sami interrupted her.

Était moves the viewpoint into the past. Sur le point de still describes the moment just before the action.

Check an action-stage sentence

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
The reply is still being written. Choose the matching update.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Elle est en train de rédiger sa réponse.. Est en train de rédiger places the writing in progress. Sending is a separate action.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the expression for a successful result.Il a réussi ___ terminer.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

à. Réussir à + infinitive expresses managing to do something: réussir à terminer.

Question 3No account needed
What does this sentence establish?Elle a essayé de répondre.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

She made an attempt.. A essayé de reports the attempt. A later clause can tell us whether she succeeded.

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