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

Introduction to the verb empiéter

Get the present tense conjugation of empiéter. 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 “empiéter” is “to encroach” or “to infringe”. The infinitive form of “empiéter” is pronounced as ahm-pee-eh-tey.

Table of Contents

The word “empiéter” originated from the Old French verb “espietier” meaning “to trample”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe when someone encroaches upon or exceeds their boundaries, often in a physical or metaphorical sense.

Examples:

Les voisins ont construit une clôture qui empiète sur notre terrain.
(The neighbors built a fence that encroaches on our land.)
Les publicités incessantes empiètent sur notre espace de vie.
(The constant advertisements infringe on our living space.)
Les politiciens ne doivent pas empiéter sur les droits des citoyens.
(Politicians should not encroach upon the rights of citizens.)

Empiéter – 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 empiéter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’empiète	J’empiète sur son territoire.	I encroach on his territory.
tu	tu empiètes	Tu empiètes sur ma liberté.	You encroach on my freedom.
il	il empiète	Il empiète sur mes droits.	He encroaches on my rights.
elle	elle empiète	Elle empiète sur notre espace.	She encroaches on our space.
on	on empiète	On empiète sur leurs affaires.	One encroaches on their business.
nous	nous empiétons	Nous empiétons sur leurs droits.	We encroach on their rights.
vous	vous empiétez	Vous empiétez sur notre territoire.	You encroach on our territory.
ils	ils empiètent	Ils empiètent sur nos libertés.	They encroach on our freedoms.
elles	elles empiètent	Elles empiètent sur notre espace.	They encroach on our space.