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

Introduction to the verb enjoindre

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The English translation of the French verb enjoindre is “to enjoin.” The infinitive form, enjoindre, is pronounced as “ahn-zhwan-druh.”

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Enjoindre comes from the Old French “enjoindre,” which comes from the Latin “in” (to) + “jungere” (to join). It is most often used in everyday French to mean “to command,” “to order,” or “to require.”

Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Il m’a enjoint de partir immédiatement. (He commanded me to leave immediately.)
Le juge a enjoint à l’accusé de rester silencieux. (The judge ordered the defendant to remain silent.)
Le médecin m’a enjoint de suivre un régime alimentaire strict. (The doctor required me to follow a strict diet.)

Enjoindre – 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 enjoindre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	J’ enjoins	J’ enjoins à mon frère de ranger sa chambre.	I am ordering my brother to clean his room.
Tu	Tu enjoins	Tu enjoins à tes amis de venir à la fête.	You are instructing your friends to come to the party.
Il	Il enjoint	Il enjoint à son employé de terminer son travail à temps.	He is commanding his employee to finish his work on time.
Elle	Elle enjoint	Elle enjoint à sa sœur d’étudier pour son examen.	She is directing her sister to study for her exam.
On	On enjoint	On enjoint à tout le monde de suivre les règles de sécurité.	We are ordering everyone to follow the safety rules.
Nous	Nous enjoignons	Nous enjoignons à nos enfants de respecter les aînés.	We are instructing our children to respect their elders.
Vous	Vous enjoignez	Vous enjoignez à vos collègues de ne pas divulguer d’informations confidentielles.	You are instructing your colleagues not to disclose confidential information.
Ils	Ils enjoignent	Ils enjoignent à leurs élèves de rester calmes pendant l’examen.	They are instructing their students to remain calm during the exam.
Elles	Elles enjoignent	Elles enjoignent à leurs enfants de manger leurs légumes.	They are directing their children to eat their vegetables.