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

Introduction to the verb gendarmer

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The English translation of the French verb “gendarmer” is “to police.” The infinitive form “gendarmer” is pronounced as zhahn-dahr-meh.

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The word “gendarmer” originated from the Old French word “gens d’armes,” meaning “armed men.” In everyday French, “gendarmer” is most often used to refer to the action of policing or maintaining law and order.

Examples of usage:

La police gendarma la manifestation pour maintenir l’ordre. (The police policed the protest to maintain order.)
Les gendarmes patrouillent régulièrement dans notre quartier. (The police regularly patrol in our neighborhood.)
Les gendarmes ont arrêté le voleur hier soir. (The police arrested the thief last night.)

Gendarmer – 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 gendarmer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	gendarme	Je gendarme dans ma région.	I gendarmer in my region.
Tu	gendarmes	Tu gendarmes le quartier.	You gendarmer the neighborhood.
Il	gendarme	Il gendarme avec sérieux.	He gendarmes with seriousness.
Elle	gendarme	Elle gendarme pour protéger la population.	She gendarmes to protect the population.
On	gendarme	On gendarme les événements publics.	One gendarmes public events.
Nous	gendarmons	Nous gendarmons la ville entière.	We gendarmer the entire city.
Vous	gendarmez	Vous gendarmez les frontières.	You gendarmer the borders.
Ils	gendarment	Ils gendarment les suspects.	They gendarm the suspects.
Elles	gendarment	Elles gendarment pour assurer la sécurité.	They gendarm to ensure security.