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

Introduction to the verb émettre

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The English translation of émettre is “to emit” or “to issue.” It is pronounced /e.mɛtʁ/ in its infinitive form.

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Émettre comes from the Old French word “esmettre,” which comes from the Latin word “mittere,” meaning “to send.” In everyday French, it is often used to refer to the act of emitting or giving off something, such as a sound, light, or opinion.

Examples:

La radio émet des émissions en direct. (The radio emits live broadcasts.)
Les usines émettent beaucoup de polluants dans l’air. (Factories emit a lot of pollutants into the air.)
Le président a émis une déclaration concernant la situation actuelle. (The president issued a statement regarding the current situation.)

Émettre – 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 émettre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’émetts	Je émetts une idée.	I emit an idea.
tu	tu émets	Tu émets un son.	You emit a sound.
il	il émet	Il émet un rayon de lumière.	He emits a beam of light.
elle	elle émet	Elle émet un signal.	She emits a signal.
on	on émet	On émet des ondes radio.	We emit radio waves.
nous	nous émettons	Nous émettons des opinions divergentes.	We emit divergent opinions.
vous	vous émettez	Vous émettez un son étrange.	You emit a strange sound.
ils	ils émettent	Ils émettent beaucoup de bruit.	They emit a lot of noise.
elles	elles émettent	Elles émettent une lumière rouge.	They emit a red light.