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

Introduction to the verb confondre

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The English translation of the French verb confondre is “to confuse” or “to mix up”. It is pronounced as “kon-fond-ruh”.

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Confondre originated from the Latin word “confundere”, which means “to mix together” or “to confuse”. In everyday French, it is most commonly used to refer to a state of confusion or to describe a situation where things are mixed up.

Examples of usage:

Je suis confondu par toutes ces informations contradictoires. (I am confused by all these contradictory pieces of information.)
Ne confonds pas les noms de tes amis, c’est impoli. (Don’t mix up your friends’ names, it’s impolite.)
La fatigue a confondu mes pensées et je me suis trompé de train. (Fatigue caused me to confuse my thoughts and I took the wrong train.)

Confondre – 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 confondre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	confonds	Je confonds le sel avec le sucre.	I confuse salt with sugar.
tu	confonds	Tu confonds souvent les dates.	You often confuse the dates.
il	confond	Il confond les noms des acteurs.	He confuses the names of the actors.
elle	confond	Elle confond les chemises blanches.	She confuses white shirts.
on	confond	On confond facilement ces deux expressions.	We easily confuse these two expressions.
nous	confondons	Nous confondons toujours les directions.	We always confuse directions.
vous	confondez	Vous confondez les mots français.	You confuse French words.
ils	confondent	Ils confondent les couleurs primaires.	They confuse primary colors.
elles	confondent	Elles confondent les règles du jeu.	They confuse the rules of the game.