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

Introduction to the verb encourir

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The English translation of the French verb encourir is “to incur.” The infinitive form, “encourir,” is pronounced as “ahn-koo-reer.”

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The language origin of encourir is from the Latin word “incurrere,” meaning “to run into.” In everyday French, encourir is most often used in legal contexts to refer to incurring something negative or undesirable, such as a penalty or punishment.

Here are three simple examples of its usage, with their respective English translations:

1) Il encourt une amende s’il ne paye pas ses impôts à temps. (He incurs a fine if he doesn’t pay his taxes on time.)
2) Nous encourrons un risque de perdre notre emploi si nous ne respectons pas les règles de l’entreprise. (We are at risk of losing our jobs if we don’t follow the company’s rules.)
3) La déforestation encourt de graves conséquences pour l’environnement. (Deforestation incurs serious consequences for the environment.)

Encourir – 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 encourir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’encours	J’encours un grand risque.	I’m taking a big risk.
tu	tu encours	Tu encours un danger.	You’re in danger.
il	il encourt	Il encourt une punition.	He’s facing a punishment.
elle	elle encourt	Elle encourt une amende.	She’s facing a fine.
on	on encourt	On encourt des conséquences.	We’re facing consequences.
nous	nous courons	Nous courons vers eux.	We’re running towards them.
vous	vous courez	Vous courez vite !	You’re running fast!
ils	ils encourent	Ils encourent des risques.	They’re facing risks.
elles	elles encourent	Elles encourent des dépenses.	They’re facing expenses.