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

Introduction to the verb démener

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The English translation of the French verb démener is “to struggle” or “to strive”. The infinitive form “démener” is pronounced as “de-meh-ne”.

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Démener is derived from the Old French word “desmaner” which means “to put out of order”. In everyday French, it is used to describe the act of making a great effort, striving, or struggling in various contexts.

Examples:

Elle se démène pour réussir dans sa carrière. (She is striving to succeed in her career.)
Le chien se démène pour attraper la balle. (The dog is struggling to catch the ball.)
Nous nous sommes bien démenés pour terminer le projet à temps. (We worked hard to finish the project on time.)

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Démener – 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 démener

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	me démène	Je me démène pour réussir.	I struggle to succeed.
tu	te démènes	Tu te démènes pour aider les autres.	You (informal) go to great lengths to help others.
il	se démène	Il se démène pour trouver un emploi.	He goes all out to find a job.
elle	se démène	Elle se démène pour finir ses devoirs.	She pushes herself to finish her homework.
on	se démène	On se démène pour résoudre ce problème.	One struggles to solve this problem.
nous	nous démênons	Nous nous démênons pour trouver une solution.	We go to great lengths to find a solution.
vous	vous démenez	Vous vous démenez pour réaliser vos rêves.	You (formal/plural) go all out to achieve your dreams.
ils	se démènent	Ils se démènent pour gagner ce match.	They (masculine) go all out to win this game.
elles	se démènent	Elles se démènent pour réussir leurs examens.	They (feminine) go to great lengths to pass their exams.