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

Introduction to the verb blêmir

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The English translation of blêmir is “to turn pale/to blanch”. The infinitive form is pronounced “bleh-meer”.

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Blêmir comes from the Latin word “blānchīre” meaning “to whiten”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe a person’s physical reaction to fear, shock, or surprise.

Examples:

Elle a blêmi en entendant la mauvaise nouvelle. (She turned pale upon hearing the bad news.)
Les enfants ont blêmi lorsque le feu d’artifice a commencé. (The children blanched when the fireworks started.)
Il est blêmi de peur devant le serpent. (He’s blanching with fear in front of the snake.)

Blêmir – 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 blêmir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je blêmis	Je blêmis devant le danger.	I blanch in the face of danger.
Tu	tu blêmis	Tu blêmis en entendant la nouvelle.	You blanch upon hearing the news.
Il	il blêmit	Il blêmit lorsqu’il réalise son erreur.	He blanches when he realizes his mistake.
Elle	elle blêmit	Elle blêmit devant la scène d’horreur.	She blanches at the scene of horror.
On	on blêmit	On blêmit devant l’immensité de l’océan.	One blanches at the immensity of the ocean.
Nous	nous blêmissons	Nous blêmissons devant le pouvoir de la nature.	We blanch in the face of the power of nature.
Vous	vous blêmissez	Vous blêmissez à l’idée de partir.	You blanch at the thought of leaving.
Ils	ils blêmissent	Ils blêmissent devant le mensonge évident.	They blanch at the obvious lie.
Elles	elles blêmissent	Elles blêmissent à l’idée d’affronter leurs peurs.	They blanch at the thought of facing their fears.