Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb contre-attaquer

Introduction to the verb contre-attaquer

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to counterattack
[kɔ̃tʁ atake]

Table of Contents

The verb contre-attaquer comes from the combination of the prefix contre- meaning “against” and the verb attaquer meaning “to attack”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of responding aggressively or forcefully to an attack or an offensive move.

Examples:

Les soldats ont décidé de contre-attaquer pour reprendre le contrôle du territoire.
(The soldiers decided to counterattack in order to regain control of the territory.)
Après avoir encaissé plusieurs buts, l’équipe a contre-attaqué avec succès.
(After conceding several goals, the team counterattacked successfully.)
Face aux critiques, il a préféré contre-attaquer en présentant des arguments solides.
(Faced with criticism, he chose to counterattack by presenting strong arguments.)

Contre-Attaquer – 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 contre-attaquer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	contre-attaque	Je contre-attaque tous les jours.	I counterattack every day.
Tu	contre-attaques	Tu contre-attaques rapidement.	You counterattack quickly.
Il	contre-attaque	Il contre-attaque avec force.	He counterattacks forcefully.
Elle	contre-attaque	Elle contre-attaque avec précision.	She counterattacks with precision.
On	contre-attaque	On contre-attaque en équipe.	One/We counterattack as a team.
Nous	contre-attaquons	Nous contre-attaquons ensemble.	We counterattack together.
Vous	contre-attaquez	Vous contre-attaquez efficacement.	You counterattack effectively.
Ils	contre-attaquent	Ils contre-attaquent avec détermination.	They counterattack with determination.
Elles	contre-attaquent	Elles contre-attaquent de tous les côtés.	They counterattack from all sides.