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

Introduction to the verb contingenter

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The English translation of the French verb contingenter is “to allocate” or “to ration.” The infinitive form “contingenter” is pronounced as [kɔ̃.tɛn.ʒɑ̃.te].

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The verb “contingenter” originates from the Latin word “contingens,” which means “to happen” or “to occur.” In everyday French, it is commonly used in the context of allocating or rationing resources, such as goods, services, or quotas. Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Les autorités ont décidé de contingenter les fournitures médicales. (The authorities decided to allocate medical supplies.)
Pour éviter la pénurie, il faut contingenter l’utilisation de l’eau. (To avoid shortages, it is necessary to ration the use of water.)
La production de ce produit sera contingentée pendant trois mois. (The production of this product will be restricted for three months.)

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Contingenter – 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 contingenter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	contingente	Je contingente les produits.	I allocate the products.
Tu	contingentes	Tu contingentes les ressources.	You allocate the resources.
Il	contingent	Il contingent les dépenses.	He allocates the expenses.
Elle	contingent	Elle contingent les marchandises.	She allocates the goods.
On	contingent	On contingent les fournitures.	One allocates the supplies.
Nous	contingentons	Nous contingentons le budget.	We allocate the budget.
Vous	contingentez	Vous contingentez les quotas.	You allocate the quotas.
Ils	contingentent	Ils contingentent les matières premières.	They allocate the raw materials.
Elles	contingentent	Elles contingentent les effectifs.	They allocate the workforce.