French Phrase
Je descends maintenant.
Meaning
Literally “I get off now.” It tells the listener that the speaker is about to leave a vehicle, an elevator, a platform, or any place they are currently on.
When to use
Use this phrase on public transport (bus, metro, train), in a lift, or when exiting a building where others need to know you’re leaving. It’s a quick, polite way to signal your departure.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jedescendsmaintenant
Subject pronoun – Je
The first‑person singular pronoun used before a verb. It never changes form.
Present tense of descendre
Descendre is a regular -re verb. In the present tense, 1st person singular adds –s: je descends.
Adverb – maintenant
Means “now”. Placed after the verb in simple statements, but can also appear at the start for emphasis.
🗨In Conversation
Je descends maintenant.
I’m getting off now.
D’accord, je t’attends à la sortie.
Okay, I’ll meet you at the exit.
✕Common Mistakes
Je descend maintenant.
The verb needs the -s ending in the 1st person singular present tense.
Je descends tout de suite maintenant.
Redundant adverbs; choose either “tout de suite” or “maintenant”, not both.
Je descends maintenant, s’il vous plaît.
Politeness isn’t needed here; “s’il vous plaît” is used for requests, not statements of action.
↔Alternatives
Je sors maintenant.
I’m going out now.
Je descends tout de suite.
I’m getting off right away.
Je vais descendre maintenant.
I’m about to get off now.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries it’s considered courteous to announce you’re leaving a shared space, especially on public transport. Saying “Je descends” lets the driver or fellow passengers know you’ll be at the next stop. You can drop “maintenant” if the context is clear – “Je descends” is perfectly natural on its own.