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

Introduction to the verb hériter

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English translation: The English translation of the French verb hériter is “to inherit.” The infinitive form is pronounced ay-ree-tay.

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Language origin: The verb hériter comes from the Old French word “heriter,” which in turn comes from the Latin “haereditare,” meaning “to inherit.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of receiving possessions, rights, or characteristics from someone who has died.

Examples:

J’ai hérité de la maison de mes grands-parents. (I inherited my grandparents’ house.)
Elle a hérité de son talent pour la musique de son père. (She inherited her talent for music from her father.)
Le prince héritera du trône à la mort de son père. (The prince will inherit the throne upon his father’s death.)

Hériter – 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 hériter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’hérite	J’hérite de ses biens.	I inherit his/her belongings.
tu	tu hérites	Tu hérites de ta grand-mère.	You inherit from your grandmother.
il	il hérite	Il hérite d’une grande fortune.	He inherits a large fortune.
elle	elle hérite	Elle hérite de son père.	She inherits from her father.
on	on hérite	On hérite souvent de nos parents.	We often inherit from our parents.
nous	nous héritons	Nous héritons de la maison familiale.	We inherit the family house.
vous	vous héritez	Vous héritez de votre tante.	You inherit from your aunt.
ils	ils héritent	Ils héritent d’une grande entreprise.	They inherit a large company.
elles	elles héritent	Elles héritent de leurs ancêtres.	They inherit from their ancestors.