Je garde toujours une copie du document.

I always keep a copy of the document.

Breakdown of Je garde toujours une copie du document.

• je: I
• garder: to keep
• du: of the
• le document: the document

Questions & Answers about Je garde toujours une copie du document.

What tense is garde in Je garde toujours une copie du document?

Garde is the present tense (more precisely, the present indicative) of garder.

• je garde = I keep
• In this sentence, with toujours, it usually expresses a habit: I always keep...

A useful thing to remember: the French present tense often covers both English simple present and sometimes present progressive depending on context.

What does garder mean here exactly?

Here, garder means to keep, to retain, or to hold on to.

In other contexts, garder can also mean things like:

• to watch/look after someone or something
• to guard
• to keep on or preserve

But in une copie du document, the natural meaning is clearly to keep a copy.

Why is toujours placed after garde?