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

Introduction to the verb enceindre

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The English translation of the French verb enceindre is “to surround” or “to encircle.” It is pronounced as “ahn-sain-druh” in its infinitive form.

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The origin of enceindre can be traced back to the Latin word “incingere,” meaning “to gird,” which evolved into the Old French word “enceindre.” In everyday French, it is most often used in a figurative sense, to describe the act of surrounding or encompassing something or someone.

Examples:

Les murs de la vieille ville enceignent le château médiéval. (The walls of the old town surround the medieval castle.)
Les montagnes enceignent le petit village, le protégeant des vents violents. (The mountains encircle the small village, protecting it from strong winds.)
La police a enceint l’homme armé pour l’empêcher de s’enfuir. (The police surrounded the armed man to prevent him from escaping.)

Enceindre – 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 enceindre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’enceins	J’enceins mon manteau.	I encircle my coat.
tu	tu enceins	Tu enceins le cadeau.	You encircle the gift.
il	il enceint	Il enceint le jardin.	He encircles the garden.
elle	elle enceint	Elle enceint la maison.	She encircles the house.
on	on enceint	On enceint le parc.	One encircles the park.
nous	nous enceignons	Nous enceignons le lac.	We encircle the lake.
vous	vous enceignez	Vous enceignez le chemin.	You encircle the path.
ils	ils enceignent	Ils enceignent la clôture.	They encircle the fence.
elles	elles enceignent	Elles enceignent la forêt.	They encircle the forest.