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

Introduction to the verb glacer

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The English translation of the French verb glacer is “to freeze”. The infinitive form is pronounced as glah-say.

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The word glacer originates from the Latin word “glaciare”, meaning “to turn into ice”. In everyday French, glacer is most often used to describe the action of freezing or icing something.

Examples:

J’ai mis les glaçons dans le congélateur pour les glacer. (I put the ice cubes in the freezer to freeze them.)
Il faut glacer le gâteau avec du sucre glace. (You need to ice the cake with powdered sugar.)
Le froid intense a glacé les lacs de montagne. (The intense cold froze the mountain lakes.)

Glacer – 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 glacer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	glace	Je glace le gâteau.	I glaze the cake.
Tu	glaces	Tu glaces les biscuits.	You glaze the cookies.
Il	glace	Il glace la tarte.	He glazes the pie.
Elle	glace	Elle glace le dessert.	She glazes the dessert.
On	glace	On glace les éclairs.	One/We glaze the éclairs.
Nous	glaçons	Nous glaçons les verres.	We glaze the glasses.
Vous	glacez	Vous glacez les fruits.	You glaze the fruits.
Ils	glacent	Ils glacent les bonbons.	They glaze the candies.
Elles	glacent	Elles glacent la bûche.	They glaze the yule log.