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

Introduction to the verb descendre

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The English translation of the French verb descendre is “to descend” or “to go down.” It is pronounced “deh-sahn-dr” in its infinitive form.

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The word descendre comes from the Latin word “descendere” which means “to climb down.” In everyday French, it is most often used to describe physically going down or descending from a higher place to a lower place.

Examples:

Je dois descendre les escaliers pour aller à la cuisine. (I have to go down the stairs to go to the kitchen.)
Le soleil commence à descendre dans le ciel. (The sun is starting to go down in the sky.)
Nous allons descendre au sous-sol pour chercher des outils. (We are going down to the basement to look for tools.)

Descendre – 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 descendre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	descends	Je descends les escaliers.	I am going down the stairs.
Tu	descends	Tu descends en rappel.	You are rappelling down.
Il	descend	Il descend rapidement.	He is descending quickly.
Elle	descend	Elle descend la poubelle.	She is taking out the trash.
On	descend	On descend du train.	We are getting off the train.
Nous	descendons	Nous descendons la montagne.	We are going down the mountain.
Vous	descendez	Vous descendez l’escalier ?	Are you going down the stairs?
Ils	descendent	Ils descendent la rivière en kayak.	They are kayaking down the river.
Elles	descendent	Elles descendent les valises.	They are bringing down the suitcases.