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

Introduction to the verb assiéger

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to besiege, pronounced as [a.sje.ʒe]

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The verb “assiéger” comes from the Latin word “obsidere,” meaning “to besiege.” In everyday French, “assiéger” is used to describe the act of surrounding a place, typically a city or fortress, in order to capture it or force its surrender.

Examples:

Les forces ennemies ont assiégé la ville pendant des mois. (The enemy forces besieged the city for months.)
Les manifestants ont assiégé le bâtiment gouvernemental pour demander des réformes. (The protesters besieged the government building to demand reforms.)
Les policiers ont assiégé la maison du suspect pour l’appréhender. (The police besieged the suspect’s house to apprehend him.)

Assiéger – 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 assiéger

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	assiège	J’assiège la forteresse.	I besiege the fortress.
tu	assièges	Tu assièges cette ville.	You besiege this city.
il	assiège	Il assiège le château.	He besieges the castle.
elle	assiège	Elle assiège la cité.	She besieges the city.
on	assiège	On assiège la forteresse.	One besieges the fortress. / We besiege the fortress.
nous	assiégeons	Nous assiégeons la ville.	We besiege the city.
vous	assiégez	Vous assiégez le château.	You besiege the castle.
ils	assiègent	Ils assiègent la cité.	They besiege the city.
elles	assiègent	Elles assiègent la forteresse.	They besiege the fortress.