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

Introduction to the verb espionner

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The English translation of the French verb espionner is “to spy”. The infinitive form of espionner is pronounced as [es-pee-o-ne].

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The word espionner is derived from the French noun espion, meaning “spy”. It originates from the Old French word “espion”, which came from the Latin word “specio” meaning “to see”. In everyday French, espionner is commonly used to refer to the act of spying or gathering information secretly.

Examples:

Il a été arrêté pour avoir espionné des pays étrangers.
(He was arrested for spying on foreign countries.)
Ne te sens pas obligé de m’espionner, j’ai confiance en toi.
(Don’t feel obliged to spy on me, I trust you.)
Les journalistes ont été accusés d’espionner la vie privée des célébrités.
(The journalists were accused of spying on the private lives of celebrities.)

Espionner – 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 espionner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	espionne	Je l’espionne	I spy on him/her
Tu	espionnes	Tu l’espionnes	You spy on him/her
Il	espionne	Il l’espionne	He spies on him/her
Elle	espionne	Elle l’espionne	She spies on him/her
On	espionne	On l’espionne	One/We/They spy on him/her
Nous	espionnons	Nous l’espionnons	We spy on him/her
Vous	espionnez	Vous l’espionnez	You spy on him/her
Ils	espionnent	Ils l’espionnent	They (masculine) spy on him/her
Elles	espionnent	Elles l’espionnent	They (feminine) spy on him/her