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

Introduction to the verb escamoter

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The English translation of the French verb “escamoter” is “to make disappear” or “to vanish”. The infinitive form “escamoter” is pronounced as [ɛs.ka.mɔ.te].

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The word “escamoter” comes from the Old French “escomoter” which was derived from the Latin “ex- (out of) + com- (together) + motare (to move)”. In everyday French, “escamoter” is most often used to describe the action of making something disappear or vanish quickly and skillfully.

Examples:

Il a réussi à escamoter la pièce de monnaie à la vue de tous. (He managed to make the coin disappear in front of everyone.)
Elle a habilement escamoté son nom de la liste des suspects. (She skillfully removed her name from the list of suspects.)
Le magicien a escamoté le lapin de son chapeau. (The magician made the rabbit vanish from his hat.)

Note: The translations provided are approximate.

Escamoter – 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 escamoter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’escamote	J’escamote un tour de magie.	I perform a magic trick.
Tu	tu escamotes	Tu escamotes les cartes.	You (informal) manipulate the cards.
Il	il escamote	Il escamote l’argent.	He manipulates the money.
Elle	elle escamote	Elle escamote les objets.	She manipulates the objects.
On	on escamote	On escamote les clés.	We manipulate the keys.
Nous	nous escamotons	Nous escamotons les preuves.	We manipulate the evidence.
Vous	vous escamotez	Vous escamotez les billets.	You (formal/plural) manipulate the tickets.
Ils	ils escamotent	Ils escamotent les illusions.	They (masculine) manipulate the illusions.
Elles	elles escamotent	Elles escamotent les accessoires.	They (feminine) manipulate the props.