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

Introduction to the verb connaître

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The English translation of the French verb connaître is “to know”. It is pronounced as “koh-nay-truh”.

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The word connaître comes from the Latin verb “cognoscere”, meaning “to become acquainted with”. In everyday French, it is most often used to express familiarity or knowledge about a person, place, or thing.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Je connais Paris très bien. (I know Paris very well.)
Est-ce que tu connais Marie? (Do you know Marie?)
Nous connaissons l’histoire de notre pays. (We know the history of our country.)

Connaître – 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 connaître

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Connais	Je connais bien cette ville.	I know this city well.
Tu	Connais	Tu connais ce restaurant ?	Do you know this restaurant?
Il	Connaît	Il connaît très bien la musique.	He knows music very well.
Elle	Connaît	Elle connaît l’histoire de France.	She knows French history.
On	Connaît	On connaît tous cette chanson.	We all know this song.
Nous	Connaissons	Nous connaissons bien cet endroit.	We know this place well.
Vous	Connaissez	Vous connaissez cet acteur ?	Do you know this actor?
Ils	Connaissent	Ils connaissent bien cette langue.	They know this language well.
Elles	Connaissent	Elles connaissent le chemin pour y arriver.	They know the way to get there.