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

Introduction to the verb givrer

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The English translation of the French verb “givrer” is “to frost” or “to freeze”. The infinitive form of “givrer” is pronounced as [ʒi.vʁe].

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The word “givrer” originates from the Old French word “givre” which means “hoarfrost”. In everyday French, “givrer” is most often used to describe the process of freezing or covering something with frost. Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Les températures basses ont fait givrer les vitres. (The low temperatures frosted the windows.)
Les arbres se sont givrés pendant la nuit. (The trees frosted overnight.)
Les fraises sont givrées avec du sucre avant d’être servies. (The strawberries are frosted with sugar before being served.)

Givrer – 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 givrer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je givre	Je givre en hiver.	I frost in winter.
Tu	tu givres	Tu givres les vitres.	You frost the windows.
Il	il givre	Il givre ce matin.	He frosts this morning.
Elle	elle givre	Elle givre le sol.	She frosts the ground.
On	on givre	On givre en décembre.	We frost in December.
Nous	nous givrons	Nous givrons les arbres.	We frost the trees.
Vous	vous givrez	Vous givrez les routes.	You frost the roads.
Ils	ils givrent	Ils givrent les plantes.	They frost the plants.
Elles	elles givrent	Elles givrent les toits.	They frost the roofs.