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

Introduction to the verb convaincre

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The English translation of the French verb convaincre is “to convince.” It is pronounced as “kohn-vain-cruh” in its infinitive form.

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The word convaincre comes from the Latin word “convincere,” meaning “to overcome” or “to defeat.” In everyday French, it is most often used to express the act of persuading someone or making them believe or agree with something.

Here are three simple examples of its usage and their respective English translations:

Je vais essayer de le convaincre d’aller au cinéma avec nous ce soir. (I will try to convince him to come to the movies with us tonight.)
La preuve a finalement réussi à convaincre le jury de son innocence. (The evidence finally managed to convince the jury of his innocence.)
Elle a essayé de me convaincre d’acheter ce sac, mais je n’étais pas convaincu. (She tried to convince me to buy this bag, but I was not convinced.)

Response:

I will try to convince him to come to the movies with us tonight.
The evidence finally managed to convince the jury of his innocence.
She tried to convince me to buy this bag, but I was not convinced.

Convaincre – 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 convaincre

Pronoun: Je
Conjugation: Je convaincs
Short Example: Je convaincs mes parents de me laisser sortir ce soir.
English Translation: I persuade my parents to let me go out tonight.

Pronoun: Tu
Conjugation: Tu convaincs
Short Example: Tu convaincs tes amis de venir à la fête.
English Translation: You convince your friends to come to the party.

Pronoun: Il
Conjugation: Il convainc
Short Example: Il convainc son patron de lui donner une augmentation.
English Translation: He convinces his boss to give him a raise.

Pronoun: Elle
Conjugation: Elle convainc
Short Example: Elle convainc son copain de changer d’avis.
English Translation: She convinces her boyfriend to change his mind.

Pronoun: On
Conjugation: On convainc
Short Example: On convainc notre professeur de prolonger le délai pour rendre le projet.
English Translation: We convince our teacher to extend the deadline for the project.

Pronoun: Nous
Conjugation: Nous convainquons
Short Example: Nous convainquons nos voisins d’adopter un chien.
English Translation: We convince our neighbors to adopt a dog.

Pronoun: Vous
Conjugation: Vous convainquez
Short Example: Vous convainquez les membres du jury de votre innocence.
English Translation: You convince the members of the jury of your innocence.

Pronoun: Ils
Conjugation: Ils convainquent
Short Example: Ils convainquent leur équipe de travailler plus dur.
English Translation: They convince their team to work harder.

Pronoun: Elles
Conjugation: Elles convainquent
Short Example: Elles convainquent leurs enfants de faire leurs devoirs.
English Translation: They convince their children to do their homework.