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

Introduction to the verb chicaner

Get the present tense conjugation of chicaner. 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 “chicaner” is “to quibble” or “to nitpick”. The infinitive form is pronounced as “shee-ka-ney”.

Table of Contents

Chicaner originated from the Old French word “chicanier”, which meant “to quarrel” or “to engage in legal disputes”. In modern everyday French, it is most often used to describe someone who argues or finds fault over minor or trivial matters.

Examples:

Arrête de chicaner pour des détails ! (Stop quibbling over details!)
Elle aime chicaner sur les règles du jeu. (She likes to nitpick about the game rules.)
Ils passent leur temps à chicaner sur les petits problèmes. (They spend their time quibbling over small issues.)

Chicaner – 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 chicaner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Chicane	Je chicane mon frère.	I annoy my brother.
Tu	Chicanes	Tu chicanes ton ami.	You annoy your friend.
Il	Chicane	Il chicane son voisin.	He annoys his neighbor.
Elle	Chicane	Elle chicane sa sœur.	She annoys her sister.
On	Chicane	On chicane nos voisins.	We annoy our neighbors.
Nous	Chicanons	Nous chicanons nos camarades.	We annoy our classmates.
Vous	Chicanez	Vous chicanez votre professeur.	You annoy your teacher.
Ils	Chicanent	Ils chicanent leurs collègues.	They annoy their colleagues.
Elles	Chicanent	Elles chicanent leurs parents.	They annoy their parents.