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

Introduction to the verb expédier

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The English translation of the French verb expédier is “to dispatch” or “to ship”. The infinitive form, expédier, is pronounced as “eks-pe-dje”.

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Expédier comes from the Latin word “expedire”, meaning “to set free” or “to remove obstacles”. In everyday French, it is commonly used to express the action of sending or dispatching something or someone.

Examples:

J’ai expédié le colis ce matin. (I dispatched the package this morning.)
On doit expédier les documents avant la fin de la journée. (We have to send the documents before the end of the day.)
Ils ont expédié les marchandises à l’étranger. (They shipped the goods abroad.)

Expédier – 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 expédier

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	J’expédie	J’expédie ces colis demain.	I ship these packages tomorrow.
Tu	Tu expédies	Tu expédies les commandes rapidement.	You ship the orders quickly.
Il	Il expédie	Il expédie les articles par avion.	He ships the items by plane.
Elle	Elle expédie	Elle expédie les marchandises à l’étranger.	She ships the goods abroad.
On	On expédie	On expédie les produits tous les jours.	One ships the products every day.
Nous	Nous expédions	Nous expédions les colis avec soin.	We ship the packages carefully.
Vous	Vous expédiez	Vous expédiez les commandes en ligne.	You ship the online orders.
Ils	Ils expédient	Ils expédient les marchandises en vrac.	They ship the goods in bulk.
Elles	Elles expédient	Elles expédient les articles fragiles.	They ship the fragile items.