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

Introduction to the verb arracher

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to pull up/to tear off/to snatch

Table of Contents

Pronunciation: /a.ʁa.ʃe/

Origin: From the Old French “aracher”, which comes from the Vulgar Latin word “arradicāre”, meaning “to uproot”.

Usage in everyday French:

Je vais arracher les mauvaises herbes dans le jardin. (I am going to pull up the weeds in the garden.)
Il faut arracher cette affiche du mur. (We need to tear off this poster from the wall.)
Le voleur a réussi à arracher son sac à main. (The thief managed to snatch her handbag.)

Arracher – 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 arracher

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	arrache	J’arrache les mauvaises herbes.	I pull out the weeds.
Tu	arraches	Tu arraches la page du livre.	You tear out the page of the book.
Il	arrache	Il arrache les affiches.	He tears off the posters.
Elle	arrache	Elle arrache les étiquettes.	She rips off the labels.
On	arrache	On arrache les fleurs.	One pulls out the flowers.
Nous	arrachons	Nous arrachons les mauvaises herbes.	We pull out the weeds.
Vous	arrachez	Vous arrachez les pages du cahier.	You tear out the pages of the notebook.
Ils	arrachent	Ils arrachent les affiches.	They tear off the posters.
Elles	arrachent	Elles arrachent les étiquettes.	They rip off the labels.