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

Introduction to the verb freiner

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The English translation of the French verb “freiner” is “to brake”. The infinitive form, “freiner”, is pronounced as [fʁe.ne].

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Freiner is derived from the Old French word “fraindre” which means “to restrain”. In everyday French, it is most often used to refer to the action of applying brakes, both in the context of driving vehicles and in a figurative sense.

Examples:

Je dois freiner brusquement pour éviter l’accident. (I have to brake suddenly to avoid the accident.)
Il faut freiner la propagation du virus en respectant les mesures de distanciation sociale. (We need to brake the spread of the virus by following social distancing measures.)
Le cycliste a freiné pour laisser passer les piétons. (The cyclist braked to let the pedestrians pass.)

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Freiner – 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 freiner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je freine	Je freine pour éviter l’accident.	I brake to avoid the accident.
Tu	tu freines	Tu freines brusquement.	You brake suddenly.
Il	il freine	Il freine avant le virage.	He brakes before the turn.
Elle	elle freine	Elle freine doucement.	She brakes gently.
On	on freine	On freine quand il pleut.	We/They/One brake when it’s raining.
Nous	nous freinons	Nous freinons devant le feu rouge.	We brake at the red light.
Vous	vous freinez	Vous freinez progressivement.	You brake gradually.
Ils	ils freinent	Ils freinent pour ralentir.	They (masculine) brake to slow down.
Elles	elles freinent	Elles freinent à temps.	They (feminine) brake on time.