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

Introduction to the verb fournir

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The English translation of the French verb fournir is “to provide” or “to supply”. It is pronounced “foor-neer” in the infinitive form.

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Fournir comes from the Old French word “fornir”, which means “to furnish” or “to provide”. It is most often used in everyday French to talk about supplying or giving something to someone, or to talk about providing something that is needed.

Here are three simple examples of its usage in everyday French:

Je vais fournir les documents pour le projet demain. (I will provide the documents for the project tomorrow.)
La compagnie fournit des repas gratuits aux employés. (The company provides free meals for the employees.)
Est-ce que tu peux me fournir l’adresse de ton hôtel? (Can you give me the address of your hotel?)

Fournir – 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 fournir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	fournis	Je fournis des fournitures scolaires.	I provide school supplies.
Tu	fournis	Tu fournis tes coordonnées ?	Do you provide your contact information?
Il	fournit	Il fournit un rapport complet.	He provides a complete report.
Elle	fournit	Elle fournit des instructions claires.	She provides clear instructions.
On	fournit	On fournit du matériel de bureau.	We provide office supplies.
Nous	fournissons	Nous fournissons une liste de produits.	We provide a list of products.
Vous	fournissez	Vous fournissez des renseignements utiles.	You provide useful information.
Ils	fournissent	Ils fournissent des services de qualité.	They provide quality services.
Elles	fournissent	Elles fournissent de bons conseils.	They (feminine) provide good advice.