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

Introduction to the verb chancir

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The English translation of the French verb chancir is “to spoil/to ruin/to deteriorate.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “shahn-seer.”

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The word “chancir” comes from the Latin word “cancellare” which means “to cross out/cancel.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the context of something that has been damaged or ruined, whether it be a physical object or a situation.

Examples:

La pluie a fait chancir les chaussures en cuir de ma grand-mère. (The rain ruined my grandmother’s leather shoes.)
La crise économique a chanci les plans de vacances de la famille. (The economic crisis spoiled the family’s vacation plans.)
Le lait a chanci et n’est plus bon à boire. (The milk has spoiled and is no longer good to drink.)

Chancir – 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 chancir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je chancis	Je chancis avec précaution.	I carefully crush.
tu	tu chancis	Tu chancis les noix dans le bol.	You crush the walnuts in the bowl.
il	il chancit	Il chancit les pommes de terre en purée.	He crushes the potatoes into mashed potatoes.
elle	elle chancit	Elle chancit la pâte pour les cookies.	She crushes the dough for the cookies.
on	on chancit	On chancit ces herbes pour les faire fondre.	We crush these herbs to dissolve them.
nous	nous chancissons	Nous chancissons les raisins pour faire du jus.	We crush the grapes to make juice.
vous	vous chancissez	Vous chancissez les glaçons avant de les mettre dans le verre.	You crush the ice cubes before putting them in the glass.
ils	ils chancissent	Ils chancissent les feuilles pour en faire une infusion.	They crush the leaves to make an infusion.
elles	elles chancissent	Elles chancissent les noisettes pour en faire une pâte à tartiner.	They crush the hazelnuts to make a spread.