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

Introduction to the verb expliquer

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to explain; /ɛks.pli.ke/

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Origin: The verb “expliquer” comes from the Latin word “explicare”, meaning “to unfold” or “to explain in detail”. It entered the French language in the 13th century.

Usage:

J’ai du mal à expliquer mes sentiments. – I have difficulty explaining my feelings.
Elle a expliqué la leçon aux élèves. – She explained the lesson to the students.
Tu peux m’expliquer comment ça fonctionne ? – Can you explain to me how it works?

Expliquer – 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 expliquer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	explique	J’explique le problème à mon ami.	I explain the problem to my friend.
Tu	expliques	Tu expliques bien les instructions.	You explain the instructions well.
Il	explique	Il explique la règle du jeu.	He explains the game rule.
Elle	explique	Elle explique la leçon aux étudiants.	She explains the lesson to the students.
On	explique	On explique les consignes aux participants.	We explain the instructions to the participants.
Nous	expliquons	Nous expliquons le projet en détail.	We explain the project in detail.
Vous	expliquez	Vous expliquez les raisons de votre absence.	You explain the reasons for your absence.
Ils	expliquent	Ils expliquent les étapes du processus.	They explain the steps of the process.
Elles	expliquent	Elles expliquent les règles du jeu aux enfants.	They explain the game rules to the children.