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

Introduction to the verb déterrer

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The English translation of the French verb déterrer is “to unearth” or “to dig up”. The infinitive form of déterrer is pronounced as “deh-teh-reh”.

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The word déterrer has Latin origins. It comes from the Latin word “dēterrēre”, which means “to dig up” or “to uncover”. In everyday French, déterrer is used to describe the action of digging up or uncovering something that is buried or hidden.

Examples:

J’ai déterré une vieille boîte dans le jardin. (I unearthed an old box in the garden.)
Les archéologues ont déterré des vestiges romains. (The archaeologists dug up Roman remains.)
Il faut déterrer les racines avant de replanter l’arbre. (You need to dig up the roots before replanting the tree.)

Déterrer – 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 déterrer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	déterre	Je déterre la vieille boîte.	I unearth the old box.
Tu	déterres	Tu déterres les fleurs.	You unearth the flowers.
Il	déterre	Il déterre un trésor.	He unearths a treasure.
Elle	déterre	Elle déterre des pierres.	She unearths stones.
On	déterre	On déterre des racines.	One unearths roots.
Nous	déterrons	Nous déterrons les objets perdus.	We unearth lost objects.
Vous	déterrez	Vous déterrez le passé.	You unearth the past.
Ils	déterrent	Ils déterrent les secrets.	They unearth secrets.
Elles	déterrent	Elles déterrent les artefacts.	They unearth artifacts.