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

Introduction to the verb imaginer

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The English translation of the French verb imaginer is “to imagine.” The infinitive form of the verb is pronounced “ee-ma-zhee-nay.”

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The word “imaginer” is derived from the Latin word “imaginare,” meaning “to form a mental picture.”

In everyday French, “imaginer” is most often used to express the act of creating or visualizing something in one’s mind. It can also be used to convey the idea of having an idea or plan.

Examples:

Je m’imagine en train de voyager à travers l’Europe. (I imagine myself traveling through Europe.)
Il n’arrive pas à imaginer la vie sans son meilleur ami. (He can’t imagine life without his best friend.)
Nous avons imaginé une nouvelle façon de résoudre ce problème. (We came up with a new way to solve this problem.)

Imaginer – 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 imaginer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’imagine	Je m’imagine en train de voyager autour du monde.	I imagine myself traveling around the world.
Tu	tu imagines	Tu imagines toujours le pire des scénarios.	You always imagine the worst scenarios.
Il	il imagine	Il imagine déjà son futur mariage.	He is already imagining his future wedding.
Elle	elle imagine	Elle imagine un avenir meilleur pour tous.	She imagines a better future for everyone.
On	on imagine	On imagine souvent que la vie des autres est plus facile.	We often imagine that others’ lives are easier.
Nous	nous imaginons	Nous imaginons un monde sans guerres.	We imagine a world without wars.
Vous	vous imaginez	Vous imaginez à quel point c’est difficile pour moi.	You can imagine how difficult it is for me.
Ils	ils imaginent	Ils imaginent déjà les vacances d’été.	They are already imagining their summer vacation.
Elles	elles imaginent	Elles imaginent toujours le meilleur pour leur famille.	They always imagine the best for their family.