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

Introduction to the verb appesantir

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The English translation of the French verb appesantir is “to weigh down” or “to make heavier.” It is pronounced as “ah-peh-sahn-teer.”

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The word appesantir is derived from the Old French word “apesantir,” which comes from the Latin word “ad” meaning “to” and “pensare” meaning “to weigh.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of adding weight or burden to something or someone.

Three simple examples of how appesantir is used in French:

Le sac à dos appesantissait ses épaules. (The backpack was weighing down on his shoulders.)
La tristesse appesantit son cœur. (Sadness weighed down on her heart.)
L’alourdissement du fardeau appesantit la tâche. (The heaviness of the burden made the task more difficult.)

Appesantir – 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 appesantir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	appesantis	J’appesantis mes propos.	I weigh down my words.
tu	appesantis	Tu appesantis la situation.	You weigh down the situation.
il	appesantit	Il appesantit le fardeau.	He weighs down the burden.
elle	appesantit	Elle appesantit son regard.	She weighs down her gaze.
on	appesantit	On appesantit le silence.	One weighs down the silence.
nous	appesantissons	Nous appesantissons nos coeurs.	We weigh down our hearts.
vous	appesantissez	Vous appesantissez la discussion.	You (formal) weigh down the discussion.
ils	appesantissent	Ils appesantissent leurs pas.	They weigh down their steps.
elles	appesantissent	Elles appesantissent leur conscience.	They weigh down their conscience.