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

Introduction to the verb concevoir

Get the present tense conjugation of concevoir. 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 concevoir is “to conceive.” It is pronounced as “kuh-sev-wahr.”

Table of Contents

Concevoir comes from the Latin word “concipere” meaning “to take in” or “to receive.” In modern French, it is most often used in the sense of “to conceive” or “to imagine” something in one’s mind. It can also mean “to design” or “to create” something.

Examples:

Je n’arrive pas à concevoir une telle idée. (I can’t conceive such an idea.)
Nous avons conçu un nouveau produit pour répondre aux besoins de nos clients. (We designed a new product to meet our customers’ needs.)
Elle a du mal à concevoir un enfant. (She is having trouble conceiving a child.)

Note: The verb concevoir can also be used in the sense of “to understand” or “to grasp” something, but this is less common in everyday French.

Concevoir – 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 concevoir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je conçois	Je conçois une nouvelle idée	I conceive a new idea
Tu	Tu conçois	Tu conçois un plan	You conceive a plan
Il	Il conçoit	Il conçoit un projet ambitieux	He conceives an ambitious project
Elle	Elle conçoit	Elle conçoit un bébé	She conceives a baby
On	On conçoit	On conçoit une solution ensemble	We conceive a solution together
Nous	Nous concevons	Nous concevons un plan d’action	We conceive an action plan
Vous	Vous concevez	Vous concevez de nouvelles technologies	You conceive new technologies
Ils	Ils conçoivent	Ils conçoivent une nouvelle stratégie	They conceive a new strategy
Elles	Elles conçoivent	Elles conçoivent un monde meilleur	They conceive a better world