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

Introduction to the verb atermoyer

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The English translation of the French verb atermoyer is “to procrastinate” or “to postpone”. The infinitive form, atermoyer, is pronounced as “a-tair-mwah-yay”.

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Atermoyer is derived from the combination of two Old French words: “a-” (meaning “to”) and “termoyer” (meaning “to hesitate”). It is often used in everyday French to express the act of delaying or putting off something that needs to be done.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

J’ai tendance à atermoyer quand il s’agit de faire mes devoirs.
(I tend to procrastinate when it comes to doing my homework.)
Ne continuez pas à atermoyer, il faut prendre une décision maintenant.
(Stop procrastinating, we need to make a decision now.)
Elle atermoie toujours avant de commencer un nouveau projet.
(She always procrastinates before starting a new project.)

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Atermoyer – 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 atermoyer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	atermoie	J’atermoie ma décision.	I procrastinate my decision.
tu	atermoies	Tu atermoies trop souvent.	You procrastinate too often.
il	atermoie	Il atermoie devant ses responsabilités.	He procrastinates in front of his responsibilities.
elle	atermoie	Elle atermoie avant de commencer.	She procrastinates before starting.
on	atermoie	On atermoie notre réponse.	We procrastinate our answer.
nous	atermoyons	Nous atermoyons jusqu’à demain.	We procrastinate until tomorrow.
vous	atermoyez	Vous atermoyez vos devoirs.	You procrastinate your tasks.
ils	atermoient	Ils atermoient depuis longtemps.	They procrastinate for a long time.
elles	atermoient	Elles atermoient avant de prendre une décision.	They procrastinate before making a decision.