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

Introduction to the verb appendre

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The English translation of the French verb appendre is “to learn”. It is pronounced [a.prɑ̃dʀ].

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The language origin of appendre can be traced back to the Latin word “apprendere”, meaning “to acquire”. In everyday French, it is most often used to refer to the act of acquiring knowledge or a skill.

Examples:

Je veux appendre le français. (I want to learn French.)
Les enfants appendent rapidement de nouvelles langues. (Children learn new languages quickly.)
Elle doit appendre à conduire pour son travail. (She needs to learn how to drive for her job.)

Appendre – 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 appendre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’apprends	Je n’apprends pas le français.	I am not learning French.
Tu	tu apprends	Tu apprends vite.	You are learning quickly.
Il	il apprend	Il apprend chaque jour.	He is learning every day.
Elle	elle apprend	Elle apprend beaucoup.	She is learning a lot.
On	on apprend	On apprend ensemble.	We are learning together.
Nous	nous apprenons	Nous apprenons le verbe ensemble.	We are learning the verb together.
Vous	vous apprenez	Vous apprenez vite.	You are learning quickly.
Ils	ils apprennent	Ils apprennent le français.	They are learning French.
Elles	elles apprennent	Elles apprennent le français aussi.	They are also learning French.