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

Introduction to the verb digresser

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The English translation of the French verb “digresser” is “to digress.” The infinitive form of “digresser” is pronounced as “dee-greh-seh.”

Table of Contents

The word “digresser” comes from the Latin word “digressus,” meaning “to step aside” or “to deviate.” In everyday French, “digresser” is used to express the act of going off topic or deviating from the main subject while speaking or writing.

Here are three simple examples of its usage with their respective English translations:

Je ne veux pas digresser, mais revenons à notre sujet principal.
(I don’t want to digress, but let’s get back to our main topic.)
Il a tendance à digresser lorsqu’il est nerveux.
(He tends to digress when he is nervous.)
Excusez-moi de digresser, mais j’ai une question à poser.
(Sorry for digressing, but I have a question to ask.)

This concludes the requested response.

Digresser – 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 digresser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	digresse	Je digresse souvent pendant mes discours.	I digress often during my speeches.
Tu	digresses	Tu digresses lorsque tu racontes une histoire.	You digress when you tell a story.
Il	digresse	Il digresse en parlant de politique.	He digresses when talking about politics.
Elle	digresse	Elle digresse lorsqu’elle écrit des articles.	She digresses when she writes articles.
On	digresse	On digresse facilement lors d’une conversation animée.	One digresses easily during a lively conversation.
Nous	digressons	Nous digressons souvent lors de nos réunions.	We digress often during our meetings.
Vous	digressez	Vous digressez pendant vos exposés.	You digress during your presentations.
Ils	digressent	Ils digressent en abordant des sujets différents.	They digress when discussing different topics.
Elles	digressent	Elles digressent en racontant leurs histoires.	They digress when telling their stories.