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

Introduction to the verb entêter

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The English translation of the French verb entêter is “to persist” or “to stubbornly insist.” The infinitive form, entêter, is pronounced as “ahn-teh-tey.”

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Entêter originates from the Old French word “entetier,” which means “to hit someone on the head” or “to annoy.” In everyday French, it is most often used to describe someone who persists or stubbornly insists on something, even when faced with opposition or difficulties.

Il s’entête à vouloir partir malgré le mauvais temps.
(He stubbornly insists on leaving despite the bad weather.)
Elle s’entête à refuser toute aide.
(She persists in refusing any help.)
Ils s’entêtent à défendre leur point de vue, même sans preuves.
(They insist on defending their point of view, even without evidence.)

Entêter – 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 entêter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	m’entête	Je m’entête à vouloir réussir.	I stubbornly insist on wanting to succeed.
Tu	t’entêtes	Tu t’entêtes à ne pas comprendre.	You stubbornly insist on not understanding.
Il	s’entête	Il s’entête à refuser mon aide.	He stubbornly insists on refusing my help.
Elle	s’entête	Elle s’entête à faire ses propres erreurs.	She stubbornly insists on making her own mistakes.
On	s’entête	On s’entête à ignorer les avertissements.	We (general) stubbornly insist on ignoring the warnings.
Nous	nous entêtons	Nous nous entêtons à défendre notre position.	We stubbornly insist on defending our position.
Vous	vous entêtez	Vous vous entêtez à vouloir tout contrôler.	You stubbornly insist on wanting to control everything.
Ils	s’entêtent	Ils s’entêtent à suivre leur propre chemin.	They (masculine) stubbornly insist on following their own path.
Elles	s’entêtent	Elles s’entêtent à ne pas changer d’avis.	They (feminine) stubbornly insist on not changing their minds.