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

Introduction to the verb dédommager

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to compensate, to indemnify
Pronunciation: day-doh-mah-zhay

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Dédommager comes from the Old French word “dommage” meaning “damage” and the prefix “dé-” indicating reversal or removal. It is most often used in everyday French to express the action of compensating or indemnifying someone for a loss, damage, or harm they have suffered.

Examples:

Le magasin a dédommagé le client pour le produit défectueux. (The store compensated the customer for the defective product.)
L’assurance va dédommager les victimes de l’accident de voiture. (The insurance will indemnify the victims of the car accident.)
Le gouvernement a dédommagé les agriculteurs pour les pertes causées par la sécheresse. (The government compensated the farmers for the losses caused by the drought.)

Dédommager – 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 dédommager

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	dédommage	Je le dédommage pour son travail.	I compensate him/her for their work.
tu	dédommages	Tu dédommages ton client insatisfait.	You compensate your dissatisfied client.
il	dédommage	Il dédommage la victime de l’accident.	He compensates the accident victim.
elle	dédommage	Elle dédommage ses employés pour les heures supplémentaires.	She compensates her employees for overtime hours.
on	dédommage	On dédommage les clients mécontents.	One compensates dissatisfied clients.
nous	dédommageons	Nous dédommageons les personnes lésées.	We compensate the injured individuals.
vous	dédommagez	Vous dédommagez vos clients pour les erreurs commises.	You compensate your clients for the mistakes made.
ils	dédommagent	Ils dédommagent les voyageurs pour les retards.	They compensate travelers for the delays.
elles	dédommagent	Elles dédommagent les victimes du vol.	They compensate the victims of the theft.