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

Introduction to the verb bâcher

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The English translation of the French verb “bâcher” is “to cover”. The infinitive form of “bâcher” is pronounced as “ba-shay”.

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The word “bâcher” originates from the Old French word “bachier”, which means “to cover”, and it is derived from the Latin word “bacca”, meaning “a covering”. In everyday French, “bâcher” is most often used to express the action of covering or protecting something.

Here are three examples of its usage:

Je vais bâcher ma voiture avant la pluie. (I am going to cover my car before the rain.)
Il faut bâcher les meubles pour les protéger pendant les travaux. (We need to cover the furniture to protect them during the construction work.)
Les agriculteurs ont bâché les cultures pour les préserver du gel. (The farmers covered the crops to protect them from the frost.)

Note: The translations provided above are literal and may vary based on context.

Bâcher – 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 bâcher

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	bâche	Je bâche la voiture.	I cover the car.
Tu	bâches	Tu bâches la fenêtre.	You cover the window.
Il	bâche	Il bâche le toit.	He covers the roof.
Elle	bâche	Elle bâche la table.	She covers the table.
On	bâche	On bâche la piscine.	We cover the pool.
Nous	bâchons	Nous bâchons le jardin.	We cover the garden.
Vous	bâchez	Vous bâchez le camion.	You cover the truck.
Ils	bâchent	Ils bâchent les meubles.	They cover the furniture.
Elles	bâchent	Elles bâchent les plantes.	They cover the plants.