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

Introduction to the verb distancier

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The English translation of the French verb “distancier” is “to distance oneself.” The infinitive form of “distancier” is pronounced as “dee-stan-see-eh.”

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The term “distancier” is derived from the noun “distance” and the suffix “-ier,” which is often used to create verbs in French. In everyday French, “distancier” is most commonly used to express the act of keeping a physical or emotional distance from someone or something.

Examples of usage:

Je préfère me distancier des personnes négatives. (I prefer to distance myself from negative people.)
Il faut distancier les chaises de la table pour respecter les mesures de distanciation sociale. (It is necessary to place the chairs at a distance from the table to comply with social distancing measures.)
Elle a décidé de se distancier de cette relation toxique. (She decided to distance herself from that toxic relationship.)

Distancier – 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 distancier

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	me distancie	Je me distancie de la foule.	I distance myself from the crowd.
Tu	te distancies	Tu te distancies pour rester en sécurité.	You distance yourself to stay safe.
Il	se distance	Il se distance des problèmes.	He distances himself from the problems.
Elle	se distance	Elle se distance de ses amis toxiques.	She distances herself from toxic friends.
On	se distance	On se distance les uns des autres.	We distance ourselves from each other.
Nous	nous distançons	Nous nous distançons des autres équipes.	We distance ourselves from the other teams.
Vous	vous distanciez	Vous vous distanciez pour éviter la contamination.	You distance yourself to avoid contamination.
Ils	se distancient	Ils se distancient des opinions contraires.	They distance themselves from opposing views.
Elles	se distancient	Elles se distancient des conflits.	They distance themselves from conflicts.