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

Introduction to the verb débourser

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The English translation of the French verb débourser is “to spend” or “to disburse.”

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The infinitive form of débourser is pronounced as “day-boor-say.”

Débourser originated from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (indicating reversal or separation) and the verb “bourser” (meaning “to pay” in Old French). It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the act of spending money or disbursing funds.

Examples:

Il a déboursé une grande somme d’argent pour acheter cette maison. (He spent a large sum of money to buy this house.)
La société a déboursé des fonds considérables pour financer ce projet. (The company disbursed substantial funds to finance this project.)
Elle débourse régulièrement pour ses voyages à l’étranger. (She regularly spends money on her trips abroad.)

Débourser – 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 débourser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	débourse	Je débourse de l’argent pour les courses.	I spend money on groceries.
Tu	débourses	Tu débourses beaucoup pour ton téléphone.	You spend a lot on your phone.
Il	débourse	Il débourse une grosse somme d’argent pour sa voiture.	He spends a large amount of money on his car.
Elle	débourse	Elle débourse trop pour ses vêtements.	She spends too much on her clothes.
On	débourse	On débourse beaucoup d’argent en vacances.	We spend a lot of money on vacations.
Nous	déboursons	Nous déboursons de l’argent pour nos factures.	We spend money on our bills.
Vous	déboursez	Vous déboursez une petite fortune pour ce restaurant.	You spend a small fortune on this restaurant.
Ils	déboursent	Ils déboursent leur argent avec précaution.	They spend their money carefully.
Elles	déboursent	Elles déboursent une somme considérable pour leur maison.	They (feminine) spend a considerable amount on their house.