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

Introduction to the verb causer

Get the present tense conjugation of causer. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb “causer” is “to cause” or “to chat.” The infinitive form of “causer” is pronounced as [ko-zay].

Table of Contents

The word “causer” originates from the Latin word “causare,” meaning “to cause” or “to make happen.” In everyday French, “causer” is commonly used to mean “to chat” or “to have a conversation.” It is often used in informal contexts to refer to casual conversations between friends, family, or acquaintances.

Examples of usage:

Je vais causer avec mes amis ce soir. (I’m going to chat with my friends tonight.)
On a passé la soirée à causer de nos projets futurs. (We spent the evening chatting about our future plans.)
Les voisins sont venus causer chez nous hier soir. (The neighbors came over to chat at our place last night.)

Causer – 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 causer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	cause	Je cause	I talk
tu	causes	Tu causes	You talk
il	cause	Il cause	He talks
elle	cause	Elle cause	She talks
on	cause	On cause	One talks / We talk
nous	causons	Nous causons	We talk
vous	causez	Vous causez	You talk
ils	causent	Ils causent	They talk (masculine)
elles	causent	Elles causent	They talk (feminine)