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

Introduction to the verb compéter

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The English translation of the French verb compéter is “to complete”. The infinitive form of compéter is pronounced as kɔ̃.pe.te.

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The word compéter has Latin origins and comes from the Latin word “completare”, meaning “to complete”. In everyday French, compéter is commonly used to express the action of finishing or fulfilling something.

Examples of usage:

J’ai besoin de ton aide pour compéter ce projet.
(I need your help to complete this project.)
Il faut compéter le formulaire avant demain.
(The form must be completed by tomorrow.)
Nous devons compéter notre collection de livres.
(We need to complete our book collection.)

Note: The pronunciation guide is written in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

Compéter – 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 compéter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	compète	Je compète	I compete
tu	compètes	Tu compètes	You compete
il	compète	Il compète	He competes
elle	compète	Elle compète	She competes
on	compète	On compète	One competes
nous	compétons	Nous compétons	We compete
vous	compété	Vous compété	You compete
ils	compétent	Ils compétent	They (masculine) compete
elles	compétent	Elles compétent	They (feminine) compete