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

Introduction to the verb extraire

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The English translation of the French verb extraire is “to extract.” It is pronounced as “ehk-strair.”

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The origin of extraire can be traced back to the Latin word “extrahere,” which means “to draw out” or “to extract.” In everyday French, it is most often used to describe the action of extracting or removing something from a larger entity.

Here are three simple examples of how extraire is commonly used in everyday French:

J’ai dû extraire une dent de sagesse hier chez le dentiste. (I had to extract a wisdom tooth at the dentist yesterday.)
Il faut extraire l’information pertinente de ce rapport. (We need to extract the relevant information from this report.)
Le chirurgien a réussi à extraire la balle du corps du patient. (The surgeon successfully extracted the bullet from the patient’s body.)

Extraire – 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 extraire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’extrais	J’extrais de l’eau de cette source.	I am extracting water from this source.
tu	tu extrais	Tu extrais trop de sucre dans ton café.	You extract too much sugar in your coffee.
il	il extrait	Il extrait les données du fichier Excel.	He extracts data from the Excel file.
elle	elle extrait	Elle extrait de l’huile essentielle de lavande.	She extracts lavender essential oil.
on	on extrait	On extrait des minéraux de cette mine.	We extract minerals from this mine.
nous	nous extrayons	Nous extrayons du charbon dans cette région.	We extract coal in this region.
vous	vous extrayez	Vous extrayez les mauvaises herbes du jardin.	You extract weeds from the garden.
ils	ils extraient	Ils extraient du pétrole au large des côtes.	They extract oil off the coast.
elles	elles extraient	Elles extraient du sel de l’eau de mer.	They extract salt from seawater.