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

Introduction to the verb gravir

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The English translation of the French verb gravir is “to climb” or “to scale.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “grah-veer.”

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The language origin of gravir can be traced back to the Latin word “gravis,” meaning “heavy” or “serious.” In everyday French, it is often used to describe physical actions of climbing or scaling objects, but it can also be used metaphorically to describe achieving success or overcoming obstacles.

Examples:

Je vais gravir cette montagne demain. – I am going to climb this mountain tomorrow.
Elle a réussi à gravir les échelons de l’entreprise grâce à son travail acharné. – She managed to climb the ranks at the company thanks to her hard work.
Nous avons gravit les marches pour arriver au sommet de la tour Eiffel. – We climbed the steps to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Gravir – 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 gravir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je gravis	Je gravis la montagne.	I am climbing the mountain.
tu	tu gravis	Tu gravis vite.	You are climbing quickly.
il	il gravit	Il gravit le mur.	He is climbing the wall.
elle	elle gravit	Elle gravit l’échelle.	She is climbing the ladder.
on	on gravit	On gravit le sommet.	We are climbing the summit.
nous	nous gravons	Nous gravons le sentier.	We are climbing the trail.
vous	vous gravissez	Vous gravissez la falaise.	You are climbing the cliff.
ils	ils gravissent	Ils gravissent le rocher.	They are climbing the rock.
elles	elles gravissent	Elles gravissent la colline.	They are climbing the hill.