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

Introduction to the verb assouplir

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The English translation of the French verb assouplir is “to loosen” or “to relax.” It is pronounced as “ah-soo-pleer” in its infinitive form.

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Assouplir comes from the Old French word “assoplir,” which means “to soften” or “to make more pliable.” It is most commonly used in everyday French to describe physical actions such as loosening or relaxing something, but it can also be used figuratively to describe a mental or emotional relaxation.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Je fais des exercices de yoga pour assouplir mon corps. (I do yoga exercises to make my body more flexible.)
Le régime budgétaire de l’entreprise a été assoupli pour permettre plus de dépenses. (The company’s budget has been loosened to allow for more expenses.)
Tu devrais assouplir tes exigences et être plus ouvert d’esprit. (You should relax your standards and be more open-minded.)

Assouplir – 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 assouplir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’assouplis	J’assouplis mes muscles tous les jours.	I stretch my muscles every day.
tu	tu assouplis	Tu assouplis ton corps avec le yoga.	You relax your body with yoga.
il	il assouplit	Il assouplit son programme d’entraînement.	He loosens up his training program.
elle	elle assouplit	Elle assouplit sa voix avant de chanter.	She warms up her voice before singing.
on	on assouplit	On assouplit nos règles pour être plus flexibles.	We loosen our rules to be more flexible.
nous	nous assouplissons	Nous assouplissons nos positions pour trouver un compromis.	We compromise by softening our positions.
vous	vous assouplissez	Vous assouplissez votre attitude envers les autres.	You soften your attitude towards others.
ils	ils assouplissent	Ils assouplissent leurs muscles avec des exercices d’étirement.	They loosen their muscles with stretching exercises.
elles	elles assouplissent	Elles assouplissent leurs horaires pour s’adapter.	They adjust by being more flexible with their schedules.