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

Introduction to the verb élaborer

Get the present tense conjugation of élaborer. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb élaborer is “to elaborate.” It is pronounced as “eh-la-bo-ray.”

Table of Contents

The word élaborer comes from the Latin word “elaborare,” which means “to work out” or “to produce.” In everyday French, it is most often used to mean “to develop” or “to create,” often in a detailed and thorough manner.

Examples:

Nous devons élaborer un plan pour améliorer notre productivité. (We need to develop a plan to improve our productivity.)
Le chef a élaboré une nouvelle recette pour le menu du jour. (The chef created a new recipe for the daily menu.)
Elle a passé des heures à élaborer sa présentation pour la réunion. (She spent hours elaborating her presentation for the meeting.)

Élaborer – 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 élaborer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’élabore	J’élabore un plan.	I am elaborating a plan.
tu	tu élaboras	Tu élaboras une présentation.	You are elaborating a presentation.
il	il élabore	Il élabore un projet.	He is elaborating a project.
elle	elle élabore	Elle élabore une stratégie.	She is elaborating a strategy.
on	on élabore	On élabore un rapport.	We are elaborating a report.
nous	nous élaborons	Nous élaborons une recette.	We are elaborating a recipe.
vous	vous élaborez	Vous élaborez une solution.	You are elaborating a solution.
ils	ils élaborent	Ils élaborent un nouveau produit.	They are elaborating a new product.
elles	elles élaborent	Elles élaborent un plan d’action.	They are elaborating an action plan.