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

Introduction to the verb colmater

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The English translation of the French verb “colmater” is “to seal/patch up.” The infinitive form “colmater” is pronounced as “kohl-mah-tey.”

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The word “colmater” originates from the Latin word “colmatare” which means “to fill up.” In everyday French, it is commonly used to refer to the action of sealing or patching up something, often related to fixing leaks or closing gaps.

Example 1: Je dois colmater la fuite dans le toit de ma maison.
English translation: I need to seal the leak in the roof of my house.

Example 2: L’entreprise a colmaté les fissures sur le mur.
English translation: The company patched up the cracks on the wall.

Example 3: N’oublie pas de colmater les trous dans le tuyau avant de l’utiliser.
English translation: Don’t forget to seal the holes in the pipe before using it.

Colmater – 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 colmater

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je colmate	Je colmate la fuite.	I seal the leak.
Tu	tu colmates	Tu colmates rapidement.	You seal quickly.
Il	il colmate	Il colmate le trou.	He seals the hole.
Elle	elle colmate	Elle colmate l’ouverture.	She seals the opening.
On	on colmate	On colmate la fissure.	One seals the crack.
Nous	nous colmatons	Nous colmatons les brèches.	We seal the breaches.
Vous	vous colmatez	Vous colmatez les trous.	You seal the holes.
Ils	ils colmatent	Ils colmatent les fissures.	They seal the cracks.
Elles	elles colmatent	Elles colmatent les ouvertures.	They seal the openings.