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

Introduction to the verb comparaître

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The English translation of comparaître is “to appear” or “to show up.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “kohm-pah-reh-truh.”

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The word comparaître comes from the Latin word “comparere,” meaning “to appear.” In everyday French, it is primarily used in legal contexts, such as in court or during a police interrogation, to refer to appearing before a judge or authority.

Here are three examples of its usage:

Les témoins doivent comparaître devant le tribunal demain. (The witnesses must appear before the court tomorrow.)
Il refuse de comparaître devant la police sans son avocat. (He refuses to show up in front of the police without his lawyer.)
Les accusés ont été sommés de comparaître pour leur procès. (The defendants have been summoned to appear for their trial.)

Comparaître – 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 comparaître

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	comparais	Je compare	I compare
Tu	compares	Tu compares	You compare
Il	compare	Il compare	He compares
Elle	compare	Elle compare	She compares
On	compare	On compare	One compares
Nous	comparaissons	Nous comparaissons	We compare
Vous	comparez	Vous comparez	You (formal) compare
Ils	comparaissent	Ils comparaissent	They compare
Elles	comparaissent	Elles comparaissent	They (feminine) compare