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

Introduction to the verb contredire

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The English translation of the French verb contredire is “to contradict.” It is pronounced as “kohn-truh-deer.”

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The word contredire is derived from the Latin term “contra dicere,” which means “to speak against.” It is most often used in everyday French to express disagreement or opposition to something that has been said or done.

Examples:

Je contredis souvent mon frère sur les sujets politiques. (I often contradict my brother on political topics.)
Elle a contredit son mari lors de la réunion de famille. (She contradicted her husband during the family gathering.)
Il est difficile de le contredire, car il a toujours raison. (It’s difficult to contradict him, as he is always right.)

Contredire – 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 contredire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	contredis	Je te contredis souvent.	I contradict you often.
tu	contredis	Tu contredis tout le temps.	You contradict all the time.
il	contredit	Il contredit souvent ses propres paroles.	He contradicts his own words often.
elle	contredit	Elle contredit ses parents régulièrement.	She contradicts her parents regularly.
on	contredit	On contredit les idées reçues.	We contradict received ideas.
nous	contredisons	Nous contredisons nos ennemis.	We contradict our enemies.
vous	contredisez	Vous me contredisez toujours.	You always contradict me.
ils	contredisent	Ils contredisent les faits.	They contradict the facts.
elles	contredisent	Elles contredisent leurs professeurs.	They contradict their teachers.