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

Introduction to the verb débattre

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The English translation of the French verb débattre is “to debate.” It is pronounced as “day-bah-truh.”

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The word débattre originated from the Latin word “battuere” which means “to beat.” In everyday French, débattre is most often used to describe the act of discussing or arguing about a topic.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Nous avons débattu de la politique lors du dîner hier soir. (We debated politics during dinner last night.)
Les élèves ont débattu sur l’importance de l’éducation dans notre société. (The students debated the importance of education in our society.)
Les candidats ont débattu pendant deux heures avant les élections. (The candidates debated for two hours before the elections.)

Débattre – 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 débattre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je débats	Je débats souvent de politique avec mes amis.	I often debate politics with my friends.
Tu	tu débats	Tu débats avec passion.	You debate with passion.
Il	il débat	Il débat du sujet depuis des heures.	He has been debating the subject for hours.
Elle	elle débat	Elle débat avec ses collègues.	She is debating with her colleagues.
On	on débat	On débat de l’avenir de la planète.	We are debating the future of the planet.
Nous	nous débattons	Nous débattons de nos opinions.	We are debating our opinions.
Vous	vous débattez	Vous débattez avec vos adversaires.	You are debating with your opponents.
Ils	ils débattent	Ils débattent de plusieurs sujets à la fois.	They are debating multiple subjects at once.
Elles	elles débattent	Elles débattent en utilisant des arguments forts.	They are debating using strong arguments.