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

Introduction to the verb hésiter

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The English translation of the French verb hésiter is “to hesitate.” It is pronounced as “ay-zee-tay” in its infinitive form.

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The word hésiter comes from the Latin word “haesitare,” meaning “to be undecided or uncertain.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe a moment of indecision or uncertainty.

Here are three simple examples of its usage with their respective English translations:

Je vais hésiter entre le poulet et le poisson pour le dîner ce soir. (I am going to hesitate between chicken and fish for dinner tonight.)
Il ne faut pas hésiter à demander de l’aide si vous avez des difficultés. (Do not hesitate to ask for help if you have difficulties.)
Elle hésita un instant avant de répondre à la question. (She hesitated for a moment before answering the question.)

Hésiter – 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 hésiter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	J’hésite	Je n’hésite pas à prendre des risques	I don’t hesitate to take risks
Tu	Tu hésites	Tu hésites toujours avant de prendre une décision	You always hesitate before making a decision
Il	Il hésite	Il hésite entre deux options	He hesitates between two options
Elle	Elle hésite	Elle hésite à répondre à l’appel	She hesitates to answer the call
On	On hésite	On hésite souvent avant de se lancer	We often hesitate before starting
Nous	Nous hésitons	Nous hésitons avant de prendre une décision	We hesitate before making a decision
Vous	Vous hésitez	Vous hésitez à accepter l’offre	You hesitate to accept the offer
Ils	Ils hésitent	Ils hésitent à prendre une direction	They hesitate to take a direction
Elles	Elles hésitent	Elles hésitent à faire le premier pas	They hesitate to take the first step