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

Introduction to the verb franchir

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The English translation of the French verb franchir is “to cross” or “to pass through.” It is pronounced as “fron-sheer” in its infinitive form.

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Franchir comes from the Old French word “franchir,” which means “to pass or cross over.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe physically crossing or passing through something, such as a border, a river, or a difficult terrain.

Examples of its usage in everyday French are:

Je dois franchir la frontière entre l’Espagne et la France. (I have to cross the border between Spain and France.)
Le chevalier a franchi les montagnes pour atteindre le château. (The knight crossed the mountains to reach the castle.)
Nous avons franchi un pont suspendu pour arriver au village. (We crossed a suspension bridge to reach the village.)

Please note that these examples are not complete sentences; they are simply to demonstrate the usage and meaning of the verb franchir in everyday French.

Franchir – 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 franchir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	franchis	Je franchis le fleuve.	I cross the river.
tu	franchis	Tu franchis les obstacles.	You overcome the obstacles.
il	franchit	Il franchit la ligne d’arrivée.	He crosses the finish line.
elle	franchit	Elle franchit la frontière.	She crosses the border.
on	franchit	On franchit la montagne.	We cross the mountain.
nous	franchissons	Nous franchissons la porte.	We go through the door.
vous	franchissez	Vous franchissez le pont.	You cross the bridge.
ils	franchissent	Ils franchissent le désert.	They cross the desert.
elles	franchissent	Elles franchissent l’océan.	They cross the ocean.