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

Introduction to the verb cibler

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The English translation of the French verb “cibler” is “to target” or “to aim at”. The infinitive form “cibler” is pronounced as “see-bleh”.

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The word “cibler” originates from the Latin word “cibus” meaning “food” or “meal”, which evolved into the Old French word “cible” meaning “target” or “goal”. In everyday French, “cibler” is most often used to express the action of aiming or targeting something, both literally and figuratively.

Examples:

Nous devons cibler notre public pour cette campagne. (We need to target our audience for this campaign.)
Les chercheurs ciblent les cellules cancéreuses. (The researchers target cancer cells.)
Le sniper a ciblé sa victime et a tiré. (The sniper targeted his victim and shot.)

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Cibler – 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 cibler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	cible	Je cible	I target
tu	cibles	Tu cibles	You target
il	cible	Il cible	He targets
elle	cible	Elle cible	She targets
on	cible	On cible	One targets
nous	ciblons	Nous ciblons	We target
vous	ciblez	Vous ciblez	You target
ils	ciblent	Ils ciblent	They target
elles	ciblent	Elles ciblent	They target