This is interesting, and I have quite a few problems with translating.
I lived the first 35 years of my life in Denmark, and so have now been in an English speaking country for 25 years. I speak and read fluently Danish and English. I still need the dictionary a lot, when reading in English, depending on the subject.
I don't translate either language, I use the specific dictionary for that language, in order to find out what the word means. When I'm in Denmark, I think/dream and do all things in Danish. When I'm at home in Australia I do it all in English.
The thing I find difficult is to tell a person in Danish what I have been doing in English and vice versa..
I would not translate or worry about different tenses of a word - just enjoy your reading.
I know a little French, having studied the language for 3 years, before I came to Australia... In fact, my French was much better than my English at the time. I do so love the French language... Wish there were books to read for my level of understanding.