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

Introduction to the verb employer

Get the present tense conjugation of employer. 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 “employer” is “to use” or “to employ.” The pronunciation of the infinitive form “employer” is [ɑ̃.plwa.je].

Table of Contents

“Employer” derives from the Latin word “implicāre,” meaning “to involve.” In everyday French, it is commonly used to express the action of using or utilizing something or someone for a specific purpose.

Three examples of its usage with their English translations are:

J’emploie un stylo pour écrire. (I use a pen to write.)
Ils emploient des robots dans leur usine. (They employ robots in their factory.)
Nous employons cette méthode depuis des années. (We have been using this method for years.)

Employer – 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 employer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’emploie	J’emploie mon téléphone tous les jours.	I use my phone every day.
Tu	tu emploies	Tu emploies ce logiciel pour travailler.	You use this software to work.
Il	il emploie	Il emploie une assistante pour l’aider.	He employs an assistant to help him.
Elle	elle emploie	Elle emploie ce produit pour ses cheveux.	She uses this product for her hair.
On	on emploie	On emploie souvent cette méthode ici.	One/We use this method often here.
Nous	nous employons	Nous employons de nouvelles stratégies.	We use new strategies.
Vous	vous employez	Vous employez ce mot à tort.	You use this word incorrectly.
Ils	ils emploient	Ils emploient des technologies avancées.	They use advanced technologies.
Elles	elles emploient	Elles emploient cette méthode pour résoudre le problème.	They use this method to solve the problem.