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

Introduction to the verb imprégner

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The English translation of the French verb imprégner is “to impregnate” or “to soak”. It is pronounced as “em-pray-nyay”.

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The language origin of imprégner comes from the Latin word “imprægnare”, which means “to impregnate”. In every day French, it is commonly used to describe the act of soaking or saturating something with a substance, such as a liquid or a scent. It can also be used figuratively to describe a strong influence or impact on someone or something.

Examples:

Elle a imprégné sa salade d’une vinaigrette maison. (She soaked her salad in a homemade dressing.)
La pièce était imprégnée de l’odeur de lavande. (The room was filled with the scent of lavender.)
Son discours a imprégné l’esprit des étudiants. (His speech had a strong impact on the students.)

Imprégner – 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 imprégner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’imprègne	Je m’imprègne de l’odeur des fleurs.	I’m impregnating myself with the smell of flowers.
Tu	tu imprègnes	Tu imprègnes le tissu avec de la couleur.	You are impregnating the fabric with color.
Il	il imprègne	Il imprègne la viande avec de l’ail.	He is impregnating the meat with garlic.
Elle	elle imprègne	Elle imprègne ses vêtements du parfum de sa mère.	She is impregnating her clothes with her mother’s perfume.
On	on imprègne	On imprègne le bois pour le protéger.	We are impregnating the wood to protect it.
Nous	nous imprégnons	Nous nous imprégnons de la culture locale.	We are impregnating ourselves with the local culture.
Vous	vous imprégnez	Vous imprégnez le papier de peinture.	You are impregnating the paper with paint.
Ils	ils imprègnent	Ils imprègnent les fruits de sucre.	They are impregnating the fruits with sugar.
Elles	elles imprègnent	Elles imprègnent leur décoration de la couleur de leur choix.	They are impregnating their decoration with the color of their choice.