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

Introduction to the verb décrire

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The English translation of the French verb décrire is “to describe.” It is pronounced as “deh-kreer.”

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The word décrire comes from the Latin word “describere,” which means “to represent” or “to write down.” In everyday French, décrire is most often used to talk about giving details or explanations about something or someone.

Examples:

Je vais décrire mon nouveau voisin à mes amis.
Translation: I am going to describe my new neighbor to my friends.
Le guide touristique a bien décrit l’histoire de la ville.
Translation: The tour guide described the history of the city well.
Pouvez-vous décrire l’accident à l’assurance?
Translation: Can you describe the accident to the insurance company?

Décrire – 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 décrire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je décris	Je décris mon voyage en France.	I am describing my trip to France.
tu	tu décris	Tu décris le tableau avec beaucoup de détails.	You are describing the painting with a lot of details.
il	il décrit	Il décrit son projet à ses collègues.	He is describing his project to his colleagues.
elle	elle décrit	Elle décrit sa nouvelle maison à sa famille.	She is describing her new house to her family.
on	on décrit	On décrit souvent Paris comme la ville de l’amour.	One often describes Paris as the city of love.
nous	nous décrivons	Nous décrivons nos expériences personnelles.	We are describing our personal experiences.
vous	vous décrivez	Vous décrivez le livre à vos amis.	You are describing the book to your friends.
ils	ils décrivent	Ils décrivent leur plan pour le weekend.	They are describing their plan for the weekend.
elles	elles décrivent	Elles décrivent leurs passions dans leur journal intime.	They are describing their passions in their personal diary.