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I just read the following sentence
Il rentre bientot.
Google translate says it means “He returned soon”. But I do not understand how is the conjugation done. I saw the rules as given here http://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/du/verbe/rentrer.php, but I can't figure it out.
Google Translate is (as often!) wrong. The sentence means:
He comes back soon. / He returns soon.
The verb rentrer is conjugated at the indicatif présent.
In French as in English, the present tense may have the meaning of a near future.
"Il rentre bientôt" suggests, a priori, minutes or hours.
"Je vais au restaurant ce soir" could be said in the morning, and of course I am not already going there.
But : "L'armistice est signé, les soldats rentrent bientôt" suggests some weeks.
