Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb agir

Introduction to the verb agir

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The English translation of the French verb agir is “to act.” It is pronounced ah-zhee (IPA: /a.ʒiʁ/).

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Agir comes from the Latin word agere, meaning “to do, to act.” In everyday French, it is most commonly used to indicate physical or mental action, as well as to describe behavior or conduct.

Examples:

Elle a décidé d’agir immédiatement pour résoudre le problème.
English translation: She decided to act immediately to solve the problem.
Nous devons agir avec prudence dans cette situation délicate.
English translation: We must act cautiously in this delicate situation.
Il est temps d’agir et de prendre des mesures concrètes pour protéger l’environnement.
English translation: It’s time to act and take concrete measures to protect the environment.

Agir – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of agir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	J’agis	J’agis pour résoudre le problème.	I act to solve the problem.
Tu	Tu agis	Tu agis avec beaucoup de courage.	You act with a lot of courage.
Il	Il agit	Il agit avec intelligence.	He acts with intelligence.
Elle	Elle agit	Elle agit selon ses valeurs.	She acts according to her values.
On	On agit	On agit rapidement pour éviter l’accident.	We act quickly to avoid the accident.
Nous	Nous agissons	Nous agissons ensemble pour atteindre notre objectif.	We act together to reach our goal.
Vous	Vous agissez	Vous agissez avec prudence et réflexion.	You act with caution and reflection.
Ils	Ils agissent	Ils agissent avec détermination pour changer les choses.	They act with determination to change things.
Elles	Elles agissent	Elles agissent pour protéger l’environnement.	They act to protect the environment.