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

Introduction to the verb essouffler

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The English translation of the French verb “essouffler” is “to exhaust” or “to wear out.” The infinitive form “essouffler” is pronounced as [es.u.fle].

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The word “essouffler” originated from the Old French verb “soufler” meaning “to blow.” It is most often used in everyday French to express the action of exhausting or tiring someone or something. Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Tu cours trop vite, tu vas t’essouffler ! (You’re running too fast, you’re going to exhaust yourself!)
La montée de l’escalier m’a essoufflé. (The climb up the stairs wore me out.)
Il faut éviter de trop les faire travailler, ça les essouffle. (We should avoid making them work too much, it exhausts them.)

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Essouffler – 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 essouffler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	m’essouffle	Je m’essouffle après avoir couru.	I get out of breath after running.
tu	t’essouffles	Tu t’essouffles en montant les escaliers.	You get out of breath when climbing stairs.
il	s’essouffle	Il s’essouffle en courant.	He gets out of breath when running.
elle	s’essouffle	Elle s’essouffle facilement.	She gets out of breath easily.
on	s’essouffle	On s’essouffle en faisant du sport.	One gets out of breath while exercising.
nous	nous essoufflons	Nous nous essoufflons en courant.	We get out of breath when running.
vous	vous essoufflez	Vous vous essoufflez rapidement.	You get out of breath quickly.
ils	s’essoufflent	Ils s’essoufflent après un effort intense.	They get out of breath after intense effort.
elles	s’essoufflent	Elles s’essoufflent en montant les escaliers.	They (feminine) get out of breath when climbing stairs.